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TABLE OF CONTENTS
VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

Table of Contents

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2018.

Registration No. 333-224351


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  6770
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  82-4151153
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)



1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(646) 475-8506

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Stephen Girsky
President and Chief Executive Officer
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(646) 475-8506

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service



Copies to:

Alan I. Annex, Esq.
Donn Beloff, Esq.
Jason T. Simon, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
MetLife Building
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
United States
(212)801-9323
(212)801-6400—Facsimile

 

Gregg A. Noel, Esq.
Michael J. Zeidel, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
525 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 470-4500
(650) 470-4570—Facsimile



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

             If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.     o

             If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  ý
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company  o

Emerging growth company  ý

             If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of each Class of Security
being registered

  Amount being
Registered

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Security(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

 

Units, each consisting of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value, and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant(2)

  23,000,000 Units   $10.00   $230,000,000   $28,635
 

Shares of common stock included as part of the units(3)

  23,000,000 Shares       —(4)
 

Redeemable warrants included as part of the units(3)

  17,250,000 Warrants       —(4)
 

Total

          $230,000,000   $28,635(5)

 

(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)
Includes 3,000,000 units, consisting of 3,000,000 shares of common stock and 2,250,000 warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,250,000 shares of common stock included in such units, which may be issued on exercise of a 45-day option granted to the Underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(4)
Pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act, no additional fee.
(5)
Previously Paid.

              The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   Subject to Completion, Dated May 7, 2018

$200,000,000

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

20,000,000 Units

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is a blank check company newly formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our "initial business combination." We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive business discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although we intend to focus on businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries.

This is an initial public offering of our securities. We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 each. Each unit consists of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described herein. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares for cash, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as described herein.

VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (our sponsor), Cowen Investments LLC (an affiliate of one of the underwriters of this offering), and certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (the "BlackRock Funds") have committed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 units (or 660,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. We refer to our sponsor and Cowen Investments LLC collectively as our "founders" throughout this prospectus, and we refer to the BlackRock Funds collectively as our "anchor investor" throughout this prospectus. Our founders, independent directors and anchor investor currently own an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of our common stock (up to 750,000 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised). Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase an aggregate of $25 million of public units in this offering. For a discussion of certain additional arrangements with our anchor investor, please see " Summary—The Offering—Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest" beginning on page 12.

A fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which we refer to as our "forward purchase investor," has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described herein. The forward purchase investor is a member of our sponsor and will fund a portion of our sponsor's purchase of private placement units. For a discussion of certain additional arrangements with our forward purchase investor, please see " Summary—The Offering—Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest " beginning on page 12.

Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

There is presently no public market for our units, common stock or warrants. We intend to apply to list our units on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol "VTIQU" on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. The shares of common stock and the warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52 nd  day following the date of this prospectus, unless the representative of the underwriters determines that an earlier date is acceptable, and subject to certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that our common stock and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQ" and "VTIQW" respectively.

We are an "emerging growth company" as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and will therefore be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


 
  Price to
Public
  Underwriting
Discount(1)
  Proceeds,
Before
Expenses, to us
 

Per Unit

  $ 10.00   $ 0.20   $ 9.80  

Total

  $ 200,000,000   $ 4,000,000   $ 196,000,000  

(1)
The underwriters will receive compensation in addition to the underwriting discount. See " Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest). "

Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement units described in this prospectus, $200,000,000, or $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.

The underwriters are offering the public units on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the public units to purchasers on or about                                        , 2018.


Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen

 

Chardan



   

                           , 2018



TABLE OF CONTENTS

        

 
  Page

Summary

  1

Summary Financial Data

  31

Risk Factors

  32

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

  64

Use of Proceeds

  65

Dividend Policy

  69

Dilution

  70

Capitalization

  72

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  73

Proposed Business

  80

Management

  103

Principal Stockholders

  113

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

  118

Description of Securities

  122

Securities Eligible For Future Sale

  133

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

  135

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

  144

Legal Matters

  151

Experts

  151

Where You Can Find Additional Information

  151

Index to Financial Statements

  F-1


TRADEMARKS

        This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies' trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.


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SUMMARY

         This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under "Risk Factors" and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to:

    §
    "we," "us" or "our company" are to VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.;
    §
    "sponsor" are to VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a company affiliated with our executive officers and certain of our directors;
    §
    "founders" are to our sponsor and Cowen Investments LLC, or Cowen Investments, together;
    §
    ``forward purchase investor" are to a fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which is a member of our sponsor and will fund a portion of our sponsor's purchase of private placement units, and has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described herein;
    §
    "anchor investor" are to certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. who have also expressed to us an interest to purchase an aggregate of $25 million of public units in this offering as described herein, collectively;
    §
    "public units" are to the units sold in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "public shares" are to shares of our common stock sold as part of the public units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "public warrants" are to our redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "founder shares" are to shares of our common stock initially purchased by our founders in a private placement prior to this offering;
    §
    "private units" are to the units sold to our founders and anchor investor in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering;
    §
    "private shares" are to the shares of our common stock sold as part of the private units;
    §
    "private warrants" are to the redeemable warrants sold as part of the private units;
    §
    "public stockholders" are to the holders of our public shares, including our sponsor, officers, directors and director nominees to the extent they purchase public shares, provided that their status as "public stockholders" shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
    §
    "contingent forward purchase agreement" are to the agreement providing for the sale of an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, or such lesser number (if any) as we may specify, at a price of $10.00 per share, to our forward purchase investor in a private placement to occur concurrently with the closing of our initial business combination;
    §
    "forward purchase shares" are to the shares of our common stock sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement;
    §
    "forward purchase warrants" are to our redeemable warrants to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement;
    §
    "forward purchase securities" are to the forward purchase shares and the forward purchase warrants sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement; and
    §
    "management" or our "management team" refer to our officers and directors.

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         Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor of an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares.

         You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.


General

        We are a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any potential initial business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential initial business combination target.

        We will seek to capitalize on the significant experience and contacts of our management team to complete our initial business combination. Although we may pursue our initial business combination in any business, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus on opportunities to capitalize on the ability of our management team, particularly our executive officers, to identify, acquire and operate a business in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which we believe has many potential target businesses. Following our initial business combination, our objective will be to implement or support the acquired business' growth and operating strategies.

        Over the last several years, there has been an increase in private equity and venture backed capital invested in the automotive/transportation technology sector. Global venture capital funding in the transportation industry increased from less than $1 billion in 2012 to approximately $16 billion in 2016, according to a 2017 Crunchbase report. However, there have been relatively few initial public offerings of business in this industry in recent years, with only 20 initial public offerings of automotive businesses in the past five years based on a data screen obtained from Capital IQ that only considered non-over-the-counter automotive initial public offerings and spin-offs in North America with an enterprise value of greater than $50.0 million. We believe that these trends provide opportunities for us to identify private companies that would benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets, as well as our management team's deep experience in these industries.

        We believe that our management team is well positioned to identify attractive businesses within the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries that would benefit from access to the public markets and the skills of our management team. Our objective is to consummate our initial business combination with such a business and enhance stockholder value by helping it to identify and recruit management, identify and complete additional acquisitions, implement operational improvements, and expand its product offerings and geographic footprint. We intend to utilize our management team's experience and contacts in these industries to achieve this objective. We believe many businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries could benefit from access to the public markets but have been unable to do so due to a number of factors, including the time it takes to conduct a traditional initial public offering, market volatility and pricing uncertainty. We intend to focus on evaluating more established companies with leading competitive positions, strong management teams and strong long-term potential for growth and profitability.

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         Stephen Girsky , our President and Chief Executive Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management, global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co.

         Mary Chan , our Chief Operating Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan joined General Motors in 2012 as President, Global Connected Consumer. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, Ms. Chan worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, she was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

         Steve Shindler , our Chief Financial Officer, is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., or NII, a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In recent years he has overseen a financial restructuring of the company that has included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

        In addition to our management, the following investors have invested in our sponsor individually or through their affiliates, and we expect that they will supplement our management team's efforts, including by providing us referrals to potential target businesses and consulting with us from time to time regarding potential business combination opportunities: Daniel F. Akerson, Noriaki Hirakata,

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Stefan Jacoby, James Millstein and Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. None of these individuals are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs.

        The past performance of the members of our management team or their affiliates is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management or any of their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance. None of our officers or directors has had any experience with any blank check companies in the past.


Business Strategy

        Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that complements the experience of our management team and can benefit from our management team's expertise. Our selection process is expected to leverage our management team's contacts in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries globally, which we believe will provide us with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. Our management team has experience:

    §
    managing and operating businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries;
    §
    developing and growing companies, both organically and through acquisitions and investments;
    §
    evaluating and managing the growth of new products and technologies;
    §
    identifying, recruiting and mentoring management personnel;
    §
    sourcing, structuring, acquiring and selling businesses;
    §
    fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target management teams; and
    §
    accessing the capital markets across various business cycles.

        Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our management team and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.


Business Combination Criteria

        Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and, in evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria or guidelines.

    §
    Focus on industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility business positioned to benefit from our management team's extensive experience and contacts in these sectors. We believe our strategy leverages our management team's distinctive background and vast network of industry leaders in the target industry.
    §
    Emphasis on companies that can benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets. We will primarily seek a target that we believe will benefit from being

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      publicly traded and will be able to effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.

    §
    We will target businesses that are market leaders, with established technologies and attractive financial metrics and/or prospects, where we believe that our industry expertise and relationships can be used to create opportunities for value creation, whether for acquisitions, capital investments in organic growth opportunities or in generating greater operating efficiencies. While this may include business with a history of revenue growth and profitability, we may also target businesses that are underperforming that that we believe can benefit from our expertise and/or technology.
    §
    We intend to seek target businesses that have established management teams, but that we believe could benefit from the industry experience and contacts of our management.
    §
    Middle-market businesses. We believe targeting businesses in the middle market will provide the greatest number of opportunities for investment and will maximize the collective network of our management team.

        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.


Initial Business Combination

        We will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies which require stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related redemptions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such stockholder vote. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, if we seek stockholder approval, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the common stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial business combination.

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        We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per share of common stock (regardless of whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option), without taking into account any interest earned on such funds. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

        Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our Board of Directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our Board of Directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the Board of Directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able independently to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business

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combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.

        As more fully discussed in " Management—Conflicts of Interest ", if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Certain of our directors currently have, and any of our officers or directors may in the future have, certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations. Our executive officers and directors have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within the required time period.


Emerging Growth Company Status and Other Information

        We are an "emerging growth company," as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act"). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

        In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.

        We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year's second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.


Corporate Information

        Our executive offices are located at 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543, and our telephone number is (646) 475-8506.

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The Offering

        In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 of this prospectus.

Securities offered

  20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:

 

§

one share of common stock; and

 

§

three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus.

Listing of our securities and proposed symbols

 

We anticipate that the units, as well as the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQU," "VTIQ" and "VTIQW," respectively.

Trading commencement and separation of common stock and warrants

 

Each of the units, shares of common stock and warrants may trade separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to us filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC with an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. Once our common stock and warrants commence separate trading, the holders thereof will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.

 

We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering, promptly upon the closing of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place two business days from the date the units commence trading. If the underwriters' over-allotment option

   

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is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if Cowen has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and warrants prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus.

Units:

 

 

Issued and outstanding before this offering

 

0 units

Issued and outstanding after this offering

 

20,600,000 units(1)

Shares of common stock:

 

 

Issued and outstanding before this offering

 

5,750,000 shares(2)

Issued and outstanding after this offering

 

25,600,000 shares(3)

Warrants:

 

 

Outstanding before this offering

 

0 warrants

Outstanding after this offering

 

15,450,000 warrants(4)

Exercisability

 

Each whole warrant is exercisable for one share of common stock. Only whole warrants may be exercised. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units. Only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. We structured each unit to contain three-fourths of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of common stock, to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our initial business combination as compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses.

   


(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and includes, accordingly, an aggregate of 600,000 private units sold concurrently with the closing of this offering.
(2)
Consists solely of founder shares, and includes 750,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised.
(3)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, and (i) includes, accordingly, an aggregate of 600,000 private shares and (ii) assumes, accordingly, that an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited.
(4)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and includes, accordingly, warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock sold concurrently with the closing of this offering.

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Exercise price

 

$11.50 per whole share of common stock, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Only whole warrants may be exercised. On the exercise of any warrant, the exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.

 

We are not registering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants (the "warrant shares") at this time. However, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC and have an effective and current registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares and a current prospectus relating to such shares in effect promptly following consummation of an initial business combination. No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares and a current prospectus relating thereto.

 

If a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares is not effective within 90 days following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may nevertheless, until such time as there is such an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain such an effective registration statement or current prospectus, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act. In this circumstance, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering warrants exercisable for the number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying such warrants and the difference between the exercise price of such warrants and the "fair market value" (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The "fair market value" means the average reported last sale price of the shares of common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Exercise period

 

The warrants will become exercisable, subject to the above limitations, on the later of:

 

§

30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and

 

§

12 months from the closing of this offering.

 

The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that the private warrants issued to Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five

   

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years after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i).

Redemption of Warrants

 

Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (excluding the private warrants as described below):

 

§

in whole and not in part;

 

§

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

§

upon a minimum of 30 days' prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and

 

§

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the shares of common stock may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.

 

The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

   

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If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a "cashless basis." In making such determination, our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value.

 

None of the private warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our founders, the anchor investor or their permitted transferees.

Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest

 

Our forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. The forward purchase investor will have the right to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with any specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into a specific

   

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  business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. If the forward purchase investor exercises such right, it will forfeit all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

 

The contingent forward purchase agreement provides that the forward purchase investor is entitled to registration rights with respect to the forward purchase securities. Otherwise, the forward purchase shares and the forward purchase warrants will be treated as identical to our public shares and the public warrants following the consummation of our initial business combination.

 

Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination,

   

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depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

 

Our forward purchase investor and anchor investor will not have any rights to the funds held in the trust account beyond the rights afforded to our public stockholders, as described herein.

Securities purchased, or being purchased, by our founders and Other Insiders

 

 

Founder Shares

 

In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our sponsor and Cowen Investments purchased 4,301,000 and 1,449,000 of the founder shares, respectively. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. In April 2018, our sponsor forfeited 435,606 founder shares and our anchor investor purchased 435,606 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894, or approximately $0.004 per share.

 

Up to an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares shall be subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. If the over-allotment option is not fully exercised, our sponsor may forfeit up to 504,182 founder shares, the anchor investor may forfeit up to 56,818 founder shares and Cowen Investments may forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares. The function of the terms of forfeiture shall be to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares) and, if any, of the underwriter's over-allotment option. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effectuate a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares) and, if any, of the underwriter's over-allotment option. Prior to the investment in the Company of an aggregate of $25,000 by our founders, we had no assets, tangible or intangible.

   

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The founder shares are identical to the public shares, except that:

 

§

the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; and

 

§

our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have each entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed: (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them, insofar as such rights would enable them to receive funds from the trust account, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold, or any shares of common stock included in the private units they purchase, if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).

 

The founder shares purchased by Cowen Investments are deemed underwriters' compensation by FINRA pursuant to Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual.

Private Units

 

Our founders and anchor investor have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. The purchase price of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering to be held in the trust account described below. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the warrants included in the private units will expire worthless. The private units are identical to the public units, except that the underlying warrants: (1) will not

   

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be redeemable by us; (2) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, as described in this prospectus, so long as they are held by the founders, the anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees; and (3) with respect to private warrants held by Cowen Investments, will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). If the warrants included in the private units are held by holders other than the founders, the anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees, then the warrants included in the private units will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the public warrants. In the event of a liquidation prior to our initial business combination, the warrants included in the private units will expire worthless.

 

The private units purchased by Cowen Investments or its affiliates are deemed underwriters' compensation by FINRA pursuant to Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual.

Transfer restrictions applicable to founders' shares and private units

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares, private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the completion of the Company's initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under " Principal Stockholders "). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the reported last sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then such securities will be released from these restrictions. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our founders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the "lock-up".

Voting arrangements with our founders and other insiders

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have each entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (and any of their

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permitted transferees will agree): (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them, insofar as such rights would enable them to receive funds from the trust account, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold, or any shares of common stock included in the private units they purchase, if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame). If we submit an initial business combination to our stockholders for a vote, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to such letter agreement, to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of such initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares held by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and shares of common stock included in the private units that our founders have committed to purchase (as described above), we would need 7,628,789 public shares, or approximately 38% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved.

Offering proceeds to be held in the trust account

 

Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the $206,000,000 of gross proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private units (or, $236,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), an aggregate of $200,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit), or $230,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit) if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be placed in a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in specified U.S. government treasury bills or in specified money market funds.

   

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Except as set forth below with respect to taxes, the funds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; or (3) our redemption of our public shares in connection with the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement to acquire a target business. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

 

Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no funds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest earned to pay taxes. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $2,000,000 of interest annually (assuming an interest rate of 1.0% per year). Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:

 

§

the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $1,300,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $700,000 (excluding the underwriters' discounts and commissions) in offering expenses relating to this offering; and

 

§

any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to loan funds or invest in us; and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.

   

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Limited payments to insiders

 

There will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our sponsor, officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private Units held in the trust account prior to the consummation of our initial business combination:

 

§

payment to our sponsor of a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general and administrative services;

 

§

payment to our sponsor of up to $100,000 which amount our sponsor has made available to us as a general working capital loan evidenced by a promissory note from which we may draw from time to time prior to the consummation of this offering;

 

§

reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations; and

 

§

repayment upon consummation of our initial business combination of any loans which may be made by our founders or their affiliates, or our executive officers, directors, and director nominees or their affiliates, to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. The terms of any such loans have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units.

 

These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.

 

Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or any of their affiliates.

   

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Audit Committee

 

Prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, we will have established and will maintain an audit committee (which will be composed entirely of independent directors) to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see " Management—Committees of the Board of Directors—Audit Committee ."

Conditions to completing our initial business combination

 

There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination.

 

If our Board of Directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test; provided that in the event that our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.

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Permitted purchases of public shares and public warrants by our affiliates

  If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination although they are under no obligation to do so. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. Please see " Proposed Business—Permitted purchases of our securities " for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire securities. There is no limit on the number of shares or warrants such persons may purchase, or any restriction on the price that they may pay. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In the event our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates determine to make any such purchases of public shares at the time of a stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. If any or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We cannot currently determine whether any of our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as that would be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to the timing and size of any such purchase. Depending on the circumstances, any of our insiders may decide to make purchases of our securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or may determine that acting pursuant to such a plan is not required under the Exchange Act.

   

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We do not currently anticipate that purchases of our public shares or public warrants by any of our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of our founders, directors, director nominees, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will purchase shares of our common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination

 

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein; provided, that we shall not redeem public shares to the extent that the redemption would result in our failure to have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules), or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination.

 

The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.

   

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Manner of conducting redemptions

 

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (2) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

 

If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

§

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

 

§

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.

 

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

   

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In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules), or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.

 

If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will:

 

§

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

 

§

file proxy materials with the SEC.

 

We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our Nasdaq listings or Exchange Act registration.

 

If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our common stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting relating to the initial business combination. In such case, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have agreed (and any of their permitted transferees will agree) to vote their founder shares, private shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. We

   

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  expect that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers and any of their permitted transferees will own at least approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon. These voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules). Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we would not complete the business combination or redeem any shares of common stock, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption would be returned to the holders thereof.

Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights

 

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in "street name," to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve our initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option, rather than simply voting against the initial business combination. The tender offer or

   

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  proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements.

Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination in conjunction with a stockholder vote pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning that we would not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares of common stock with respect to an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares of common stock, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares of common stock as a means to force us or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers or any of their affiliates to purchase their shares of common stock at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder (together with its "group") holding an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder's shares of common stock were not purchased by us or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers or any of their affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our public stockholders' redemption rights as herein described, we believe we will limit the potential for a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block the completion of our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not restrict our stockholders' ability to vote all of their shares of common stock (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination.

   

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Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our charter documents

 

Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter documents which prohibits the amendment of certain charter provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that amendments to any of its provisions relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our common stock. If any such amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation are approved by the requisite stockholder vote, we may amend the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by the holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock, subject to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, or applicable stock exchange rules.

 

After the completion of this offering, and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue any additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account or vote as a class with our public shares on an initial business combination, on any pre-business combination activity or on any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors, and director nominees, who will beneficially own approximately 20% of our shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase public units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose; provided, that , each of them has agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on

   

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  deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules).

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and any public shares held by them in connection with any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination

 

On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under " Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination ," to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination

 

We will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on

   

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  deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees acquire public shares after this offering they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time frame.

Indemnity

 

Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us, if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently

   

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  verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor's only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations, and we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. We believe the likelihood of our sponsor having to indemnify the trust account is limited because we will endeavor to have all vendors and prospective target businesses as well as other entities execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account.

Conflicts of interest

 

Cowen Investments, which beneficially owns more than 10% of our outstanding common stock prior to the consummation of this offering, is an affiliate of Cowen and Company, LLC, an underwriter in this offering. As a result, Cowen and Company, LLC is deemed to have a "conflict of interest" within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("Rule 5121").

 

Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. Rule 5121 requires that a "qualified independent underwriter," as defined in Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC has agreed to act as a "qualified independent underwriter" for this offering. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will not receive any additional compensation for acting as a qualified independent underwriter. We have agreed to indemnify Chardan Capital Markets, LLC against certain liabilities incurred in connection with acting as a "qualified independent underwriter," including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, no underwriter with a conflict of interest will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder.


Risks

        We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account the special risks we face as a blank check company, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act, and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see " Proposed Business—Comparison to offerings of blank check companies subject to Rule 419 ." You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 of this prospectus.

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.

 
  March 31, 2018    
 
  Actual   As
Adjusted
   

Balance Sheet Data:

               

Working capital (deficit)

  $ (154,462 ) $ 201,324,538 (1)  

Total assets

  $ 204,000   $ 201,324,538 (2)  

Total liabilities

  $ 179,462   $    

Value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash

  $   $ 196,324,530 (3)  

Stockholders' equity

  $ 24,538   $ 5,000,008    

(1)
The "as adjusted" calculation includes the $200,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus the $1,300,000 held outside the trust account, plus $24,538 of actual stockholders' equity at March 31, 2018.
(2)
The "as adjusted" calculation includes the $200,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus the $1,300,000 held outside the trust account, plus $24,538 of actual stockholders' equity at March 31, 2018.
(3)
The "as adjusted" value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash is derived by taking 19,632,453 shares which may be redeemed, representing the maximum number of shares that may be redeemed while maintaining at least $5,000,001 in net tangible assets after the offering, multiplied by a redemption price of $10.00.

        The "as adjusted" information gives effect to the sale of the public units and the private units, including the application of the related gross proceeds and the payment of the estimated remaining costs from such sale and the repayment of the accrued and other liabilities required to be repaid such that we have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets upon consummation of this offering and upon consummation of our initial business combination.

        The "as adjusted" total assets amount includes the $200,000,000 held in the trust account (or $230,000,000 million if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) for the benefit of our public stockholders, which amount will be available to us only upon the completion of our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.

        We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination (if a vote is required or being obtained).

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RISK FACTORS

         An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.

        We are a blank check company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning our initial business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.

Our independent registered public accounting firm's report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a "going concern."

        As of March 31, 2018, we had $25,000 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficiency of $154,462. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management's plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ." Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.

Past performance by our management team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in our company.

        Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team and their affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team's or their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in the company or the returns the company will, or is likely to, generate going forward. None of our officers or directors has had experience with any blank check companies in the past.

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The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us for taxes) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete such a business combination with.

        Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete an initial business combination with. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.

Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.

        We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange rules or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting, but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock do not approve of the business combination we consummate. Please see " Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination " for additional information. Our founders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our founders, executive officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.

        Unlike many other blank check companies in which the founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees agree to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the public stockholders in connection with an initial business combination, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote any common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares held by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and shares of common stock included in the private units that our founders have committed to purchase, we would need 7,628,789, or approximately 38%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this

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offering to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 750,000 founder shares are forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved. We expect that our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and their permitted transferees will own at least approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if such persons agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.

Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.

        At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Because our Board of Directors may consummate our initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination. Accordingly, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.

The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into our initial business combination with a target.

        We may enter into a transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we may not be able to meet such closing condition, and as a result, would not be able to proceed with such business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require us to provide all of our public stockholders with an opportunity to redeem all of their shares in connection with the consummation of any initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination, or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets would be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into our initial business combination transaction with us.

The forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, the forward purchase investor may purchase up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus a number of forward purchase warrants equaling three-fourths of the number of forward purchase shares acquired, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. Pursuant to such agreement, if, upon notification of our intention to enter into an initial business combination, the forward purchase investor decides not to purchase such forward

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purchase securities for any reason, it will be excused from its obligation to purchase such forward purchase shares. This excusal right could give the forward purchase investor significant influence over our decision of whether or not to proceed with an initial business combination with a particular target business. We may not be able to obtain any or enough additional funds to account for such shortfall, which may impact our ability to consummate an initial business combination. Any such shortfall would also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for working capital of the post-business combination company.

In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management may rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.

        We have entered into the contingent forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchase investor may purchase an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These forward purchase shares and forward purchase warrants would be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. The contingent forward purchase agreement allows the forward purchase investor to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with a specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into such business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. The funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination. However, if the sale of the forward purchase securities does not close by reason of the failure by the forward purchase investor to fund the purchase price for the forward purchase securities, for example, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. In the event of any failure to fund by the forward purchase investor, we may not be able to obtain additional funds to account for such shortfall on terms favorable to us or at all. Any such shortfall would also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for working capital of the post-business combination company. While the forward purchase investor has represented to us that it has sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations under the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have not obligated the forward purchase investor to reserve funds for such obligations.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to consummate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

        In connection with the successful consummation of our initial business combination, we may redeem up to that number of shares of common stock that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, the redemption threshold may be further limited. Alternatively, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of stockholders exercise their redemption rights than we expect. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its stockholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher

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than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.

The requirement that we maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash could increase the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.

        If, pursuant to the terms of our proposed business combination, we are required to maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash in trust in order to consummate the business combination and regardless of whether we proceed with redemptions under the tender or proxy rules, the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in our trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.

The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.

        Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning our initial business combination will be aware that we must consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. Consequently, such target businesses may obtain leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.

We may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and consummate our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein.

        If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the require time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than five business days thereafter, distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. This redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected as

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required by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and prior to any voluntary winding up.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from stockholders, in which case they may influence a vote in favor of a proposed business combination that you do not support.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules), our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates are permitted to purchase shares of our common stock in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such purchase would be required to include a contractual acknowledgement that the selling stockholder, although he may still be the record holder of the shares being sold, would, upon consummation of such sale, no longer be the beneficial owner of such shares and would agree not to exercise the redemption rights applicable to such shares. In the event that our founders, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates purchase shares of common stock in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, any such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares of common stock prior to the consummation of the transaction.

        The purpose of such purchases could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or (2) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the consummation of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

Purchases of shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may make it difficult for us to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq following the consummation of an initial business combination.

        If our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, the public "float" of our common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities would both be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain the listing or trading of our securities on Nasdaq following consummation of the initial business combination.

You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your securities, potentially at a loss.

        Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of a redemption to public stockholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, (ii) if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or, (iii) if they redeem their shares in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of

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this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to our pre-business combination activity and related stockholders' rights. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities, potentially at a loss.

You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.

        Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete our initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a "blank check" company under the United States securities laws. However, since we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we may have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, offerings subject to Rule 419 would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our consummation of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see " Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419 ."

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), and if you or a "group" of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, individually or together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), would be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering without our prior written consent. Your inability to redeem an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering will reduce your influence over our ability to consummate our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell such excess shares in open market transactions. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, you would be required to sell your shares in open market transaction, potentially at a loss.

If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months following the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.

        The funds available to us outside of the trust account, plus the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be available to us, may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months following the closing of this offering, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business.

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We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a "no-shop" provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from "shopping" around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we are unable to fund such down payments or "no shop" provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, or we may be subject to restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our common stock, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

        Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not surface all material issues that may be present with a particular target business. Factors outside of the target business and outside of our control may, at any time, arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing.

If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

        Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party's engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Our independent registered public accounting firm and the underwriters of this offering will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.

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        Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.

        Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor's only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

Our directors may decide not to enforce indemnification obligations against our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.

        In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine on our behalf whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification

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obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.

        If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including restrictions on the nature of our investments and restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including registration as an investment company with the SEC, adoption of a specific form of corporate structure and reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.

        If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to consummate our initial business combination.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.

        We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application also may change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.

        We must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period or we may be unable to consummate a business combination due to a downturn in industry or economic conditions or due to other factors that may occur. If we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will continue in existence only until 24 months from the closing of this offering. As promptly as reasonably possible following the redemptions we are required to make to our public stockholders in such event, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, we would dissolve and liquidate, subject to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of the date of distribution. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to recover from our stockholders amounts owed to them by us.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a "preferential transfer" or a "fraudulent conveyance." As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly after expiration of the time we have to complete an initial business combination, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

The grant of registration rights to our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

        Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into on the date of this prospectus, our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and their respective permitted transferees, can demand that we register for resale an aggregate of 5,000,000 founder shares (or 5,750,000 founder shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and underlying securities. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earliest of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act.

        We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash

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consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our securities that is expected when the securities owned by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, or their respective permitted transferees, are registered for resale.

Because we are not limited to any particular business or specific geographic location or any specific target business, industry or sector with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business' operations.

        Although we intend to focus on the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, we may pursue acquisition opportunities in any geographic region and in any business industry or sector. Except for the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) and that we are not permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business with respect to our initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business's operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we consummate our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. An investment in our units may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in an acquisition target.

We may seek acquisition opportunities outside the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which may be outside of our management's areas of expertise.

        We will consider a business combination outside the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which may be outside of our management's areas of expertise, if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management's expertise, our management's expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management's expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholder who chooses to remain a stockholder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

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Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.

        Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we consummate our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria or guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce our initial business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or the rules of Nasdaq, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Management's flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management's financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our stockholders.

        Subject to the Nasdaq listing rules requirement that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Investors will be relying on management's ability to identify business combinations, evaluate their merits, conduct or monitor diligence and conduct negotiations. Management's flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with management's financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our stockholders.

We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.

        To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.

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We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm, and consequently, an independent source may not confirm that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.

        Unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our Board of Directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Our Board of Directors will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of the target acquisition. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.

We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination, which would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may not issue any additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account or vote as a class with our public shares on an initial business combination. Although no such issuance will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account, the issuance of additional common stock or preferred shares:

Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business.

        We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting, and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents, and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to consummate our initial

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business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock and could entrench management.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered Board of Directors and the ability of our Board of Directors to designate the terms of, and issue new series of, preferred stock, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities. We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder's counsel. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

We do not currently intend to hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after our consummation of a business combination and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.

        We do not currently intend to hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate a business combination (unless required by Nasdaq), and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors, in accordance with a company's certificate of incorporation and

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bylaws, unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. If our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of a business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.

We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on stockholders.

        We may, in connection with our initial business combination, reincorporate in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located or in another jurisdiction. The transaction may require a stockholder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the stockholder is a tax resident or in which its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to stockholders to pay such taxes. Stockholders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.

Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be largely dependent upon the efforts of our executive officers, directors and key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of our executive officers, directors, or key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our business.

        Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our executive officers and directors, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. In addition, our executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us. Additionally, we do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.

        The role of such key persons in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of such persons may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, our assessment of these individuals may not prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.

Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.

        Our key personnel may be able to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive

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compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination. Our key personnel may not remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.

        When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business' management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target's management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target's management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted.

The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon consummation of our initial business combination. The loss of an acquisition target's key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

        The role of an acquisition candidate's key personnel upon the consummation of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate's management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that some members of the management team of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.

None of Cowen, any of its affiliates or our advisors has an obligation to provide us with potential investment opportunities or to devote any specified amount of time or support to our company's business.

        Although we expect to benefit from Cowen's and its affiliates' network of relationships and processes for sourcing, executing and evaluating potential acquisition targets, neither Cowen nor any of its affiliates has any legal or contractual obligation to seek on our behalf or to present to us investment opportunities that might be suitable for our business, and may allocate any such opportunities at its discretion to us or other parties. We have no investment management, advisory, consulting or other agreement in place with Cowen or any of its affiliates that obligates them to undertake efforts on our behalf or that govern the manner in which they will allocate investment opportunities. Additionally, while we anticipate that certain of the advisors listed under " Management—Other Advisors " may provide us referrals to potential target businesses, and be available from time to time to consult with us regarding potential business combination opportunities, none of these advisors are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs. Even if Cowen, one of its affiliates or one of our advisors refers an opportunity to us, no assurance can be given that such opportunity will result in an acquisition agreement or our initial business combination.

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Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

        Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our officers and directors are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business.

        Our officers also may become aware of business opportunities, which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary duties or contractual obligations. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor or that a potential target business would not be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.

We may engage in our initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our founders, executive officers, directors or director nominees, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

        We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, director nominees, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. Additionally, in light of the involvement of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and each of their affiliates, with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our founders, executive officers or directors, or any of their affiliates. Our directors also serve as executive officers and board members for other entities. Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to consummate our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for our initial business combination as set forth in " Proposed Business—Effecting our initial business combination—Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination " and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent account firm regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest. Our directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our stockholders, whether or not a conflict of interest may exist.

Since each of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will lose any investment in us if our initial business combination is not consummated, and our officers and directors have significant financial interests in us, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular acquisition target is appropriate for our initial business combination.

        In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Certain members of our

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management team also have a financial interest in our sponsor. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees. Additionally, 435,606 founder shares were forfeited by our sponsor and acquired by the anchor investor. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not consummate an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor and/or its designees has committed to purchase 350,000 private units (or 390,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), for an aggregate purchase price of $3,500,000 (or $3,900,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), and Cowen Investments and/or its designees has committed to purchase 200,000 private units (or 220,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 (or $2,200,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). All of the foregoing private units will also be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.

We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our initial business combination, which may adversely affect our financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders' investment in us.

        Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete initial business combination. Furthermore, we may issue a substantial number of additional common or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination. We and our officers and directors have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:

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We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, and the sale of the private units, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business, which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.

        The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units will provide us with approximately $200,000,000 (or approximately $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination. Furthermore, the forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason under the terms of the contingent forward purchase agreement. If the forward purchase investor does not exercise such excusal right, we may have up to an additional $25,000,000 available to us for our initial business combination. However, if the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. Please see the risk factors titled "The forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason," and "In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management will rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination," for further information on these risks.

        We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities, which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

        This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.

We may attempt to simultaneously consummate business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to consummate our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.

        If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with

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respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.

We may attempt to consummate our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

        In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information typically exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

Our management team and our stockholders may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company's stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.

Unlike many blank check companies, we do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.

        Since we have no specified percentage threshold for redemption contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our structure is different in this respect from the structure that has been used by many blank check companies. Historically, blank check companies would not be able to consummate an initial business combination if the holders of such company's public shares voted against a proposed business combination and elected to redeem more than a specified maximum percentage of the shares sold in such company's initial public offering, which percentage threshold was typically between 19.99% and 39.99%. As a result, many blank check companies were unable to complete a business combination because the amount of shares voted by their

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public stockholders electing redemption exceeded the maximum redemption threshold pursuant to which such company could proceed with its initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to consummate our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to a tender offer, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to us or our founders, executive officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates. However, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Furthermore, the redemption threshold may be further limited by the terms and conditions of our initial business combination. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares and the related business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares and the related business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.

Investors may view our units as less attractive than those of other blank check companies.

        Unlike other blank check companies that sell units comprised of shares and warrants each to purchase one full share in their initial public offerings, we are selling units that are each comprised of one share of common stock and three-fourths of a warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The warrants will expire and be worthless if we do not consummate an initial business combination. Furthermore, only whole warrants may be exercised. As a result, unless you acquire at least two warrants, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. Accordingly, investors in this offering will not be issued the same securities as part of their investment as they may have in other blank check company offerings, which may have the effect of limiting the potential upside value of your investment in our Company.

Holders of warrants will not participate in liquidating distributions if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.

        If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, the warrants will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the warrants. In this case, holders of warrants are treated in the same manner as holders of warrants of blank check companies whose units are comprised of shares and warrants, as the warrants in those companies do not participate in liquidating distributions. Nevertheless, the foregoing may provide a financial incentive to public stockholders to vote in favor of any proposed initial business combination as each of their whole warrants would entitle the holder to purchase one share of common stock, resulting in an increase in their overall economic stake in our company. If a business combination is not approved, the warrants will expire and will be worthless.

If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, public holders will only be able to exercise such warrants on a "cashless basis" which would result in a fewer number of shares being issued to the holder had such holder exercised the warrants for cash.

        If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants at the time that holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a "cashless basis" provided that an exemption from registration is available. As a result, the number of warrant shares that a holder will receive upon exercise of its

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public warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised its warrant for cash. Further, if an exemption from registration is not available, holders would not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and would only be able to exercise their warrants for cash if a current and effective prospectus relating to the issuance of the warrant shares is available. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential "upside" of the holder's investment in our Company may be reduced or the warrants may expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. If the issuance of the warrant shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrants shall not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of common stock included in the units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the private warrants may be exercisable for unregistered warrant shares for cash even if the prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current and effective.

Our management's ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer shares of common stock upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.

        If we call our public warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his, her or its warrants (including any warrants held by our founders, anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees) to do so on a "cashless basis." If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of warrant shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrants for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential "upside" of the holder's investment in our company.

We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants.

        Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement will provide that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into stock or cash, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant.

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Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.

        We will be issuing warrants to purchase 15,000,000 shares of our common stock (or up to 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), as part of the units offered by this prospectus, and warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of our common stock (or up to 495,000 shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), as part of a private placement. Furthermore, pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement and subject to an excusable right, the forward purchase investor has committed to purchase up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share. In each case, the warrants are exercisable at a price of $11.50 per whole share of common stock. To the extent we issue shares of common stock to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of common stock upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock and reduce the value of the shares of common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

        If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public stockholders may exercise redemption rights, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such redemption, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our initial business combination. In the event that the acquisition involves the issuance of our stock as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our stock to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.

We may be unable to consummate an initial business combination if a target business requires that we have a certain amount of cash at closing, in which case public stockholders may have to remain stockholders of our company and wait until our redemption of the public shares to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.

        A potential target may make it a closing condition to our initial business combination that we have a certain amount of cash in excess of the $5,000,001 of net tangible assets we are required to have pursuant to our organizational documents available at the time of closing. If the number of our public stockholders electing to exercise their redemption rights has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate an initial business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public stockholders may have to remain stockholders of our company and wait the full 24 months from the closing of this offering, in order to be able to receive a portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than they would have in a liquidation of the trust account.

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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we intend to offer each public stockholder the option to vote in favor of the proposed business combination and still seek redemption of such stockholders' shares.

        In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public stockholder (but not our founders, officers or directors) the right to have his, her or its shares of common stock redeemed for cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether such stockholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where stockholders are offered the right to redeem their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This threshold and the ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.

We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.

        We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in "street name," to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the expiration date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or in the event we distribute proxy materials, up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder's broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, this may not be the case. Under our bylaws, we are required to provide at least 10 days advance notice of any stockholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a stockholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for stockholders to deliver their shares, stockholders who wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to redeem their shares. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares, its shares may not be redeemed.

        Additionally, despite our compliance with the proxy rules or tender offer rules, as applicable, stockholders may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem their shares.

Redeeming stockholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.

        We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with any proposed business combination to comply with the delivery requirements discussed above for redemption. If such proposed business combination is not consummated, we

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will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public stockholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to redeem their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our common stock may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other stockholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.

Because of our structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.

        We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private equity groups, venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds, operating businesses and other blank check companies competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Therefore, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking stockholder approval of our initial business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.

        Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company's pre-business combination activity, without approval by holders of a certain percentage of the company's shares. In those companies, amendment of these provisions typically requires approval by holders holding between 90% and 100% of the company's public shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that amendments to any its provisions relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholder rights, including the substance and timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete out initial business combination within the required time period, may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock. If an amendment to any such provision is approved by the requisite stockholder vote, then the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our common stock, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. Subsequent to this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that can vote as a class with our public shares on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our founders, executive officers and directors will collectively beneficially own approximately 20% of our outstanding common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering), and they may participate in any vote to amend amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust

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agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our initial business combination with which you do not agree. In certain circumstances, our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless.

        Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, founder shares and forward purchase securities, including the interest earned on the proceeds held in the trust account that may be available to us for our initial business combination, will be sufficient to consummate our initial business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and forward purchase securities, including the interest earned on the proceeds held in the trust account that may be available to us for our initial business combination, prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination, the forward purchase investor's election to be excused from its purchase obligations or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. Financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate our initial business combination, or the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular initial business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to consummate our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will have a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a stockholder vote.

        Upon consummation of our offering, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will own approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering). None of our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or any of their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase public units in this offering or any public units or shares of common stock from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, our founders, executive officers, directors or any of their affiliates could determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to influence the vote or magnitude of the

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number of stockholders seeking to tender their shares to us. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination our founders, as well as all of our executive officers and directors, have agreed to vote the shares of common stock owned by them immediately before this offering, the shares of common stock underlying the private units, as well as any shares of common stock acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of such proposed business combination.

        In addition, our Board of Directors will be divided into two classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our "staggered" Board of Directors, only a portion of the Board of Directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.

Our founders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per founder share; accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our public shares.

        The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the public shares and none to the warrants included in the public units) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our founders acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon closing of this offering, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 91.6% or $9.16 per share of common stock (the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.84 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per share of common stock).

The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry.

        Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:

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        Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.

There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.

        Although we have applied to list our securities on Nasdaq, as of the date of this prospectus there is currently no market for our securities. Prospective stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Once listed on Nasdaq, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. Additionally, if our securities become delisted from Nasdaq for any reason, and are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets, an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities not listed on a national exchange, the liquidity and price of our securities may be more limited than if we were listed on Nasdaq or another national exchange. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.

Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

        We intend to apply to have our units listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our common stock and warrants listed on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet the minimum initial listing requirements set forth in the rules of Nasdaq, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum number of holders of our securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq's initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq's continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4 per share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.

        If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

        The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as "covered securities." Because we expect that our units and eventually our common stock and

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warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the state of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.

        Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to this offering, the trust agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, the letter agreements among us and our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and the registration rights agreement among us and our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, the underwriting agreement related to this offering contains a covenant that the target company that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the trust account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the transaction with such target business (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendment may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.

Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.

        The United States federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or International Financial Reporting Standard as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and consummate our initial business combination within our 24 month time frame.

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Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing a business combination.

        Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.

We are an "emerging growth company" and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.

        We are an "emerging growth company" within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

        Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the

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extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.

We may face risks related to businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries.

        Business combinations with businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries entail special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing a business combination with such a target business, we may be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks:

        Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks we will be subject to risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, which may or may not be different than those risks listed above.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Certain statements contained in this prospectus, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and any other statements of a future or forward-looking nature, constitute "forward-looking statements" for the purpose of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

        The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Future developments affecting us may not be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading "Risk Factors". Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units will be used as set forth in the following table.

 
  Without
Over-Allotment
Option
  Over-Allotment
Option
Exercised
 

Gross proceeds

             

Offering(1)

  $ 200,000,000   $ 230,000,000  

Private Placement

    6,000,000     6,600,000  

Total gross proceeds

    206,000,000     236,600,000  

Offering expenses (2)

             

Underwriting discount

    4,000,000     4,600,000  

Legal fees and expenses

    300,000     300,000  

Nasdaq listing fees

    75,000     75,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

    40,000     40,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

    49,000     49,000  

FINRA filing fee

    35,000     35,000  

D&O insurance

    125,000     125,000  

SEC registration fee

    28,635     28,635  

Miscellaneous expenses

    47,365     47,365  

Total offering expenses

    4,700,000     5,300,000  

Net proceeds

             

Held in the trust account(2)

    200,000,000     230,000,000  

Not held in the trust account

    1,300,000     1,300,000  

Total net proceeds

  $ 201,300,000   $ 231,300,000  

Use of net proceeds not held in the trust account (3)

             

Legal, accounting and other third party expenses attendant to the search for target businesses and to the structuring of our initial business combination

  $ 350,000     350,000  

Due diligence of target by founders, officers, directors

    350,000     350,000  

Legal and accounting fees relating to SEC reporting obligations

    150,000     150,000  

Administrative fee ($10,000 per month for 24 months)

    240,000     240,000  

Nasdaq continued listing fees

    75,000     75,000  

Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses, general corporate purposes, liquidation obligations and reserves

    135,000     135,000  

Total

  $ 1,300,000     1,300,000  

(1)
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
(2)
In addition, a portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of loans from our founders of up to $200,000 as described in this prospectus. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $700,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses other than underwriting discounts.
(3)
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth in this prospectus. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and

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    structuring a business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an acquisition target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account.

        Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the gross proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, a total of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills, notes and bonds with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries. Except for all interest income that may be released to us to pay taxes, none of the funds held in the trust account will be released from the trust account until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; and (3) our redemption of our public shares in connection with the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period.

        The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using shares or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the purchase price in connection with our business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of acquired businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in consummating the initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

        We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of our initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or our officers and directors, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.

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        Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general and administrative services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.

        In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we consummate our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the offering proceeds held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of

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the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        In no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Furthermore, the redemption threshold may be further limited by the terms and conditions of our initial business combination. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.

        A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our consummation of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or, if our charter documents are amended to so provide, (iii) the redemption of our public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders' rights or pre-business combination activity, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

        Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (1) waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights and (2) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees acquire public shares after this offering they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time frame.

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DIVIDEND POLICY

        We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our Board of Directors at such time. In addition, our Board of Directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering (assuming no purchase in this offering and not taking into account ownership of the private units). Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

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DILUTION

        The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the public warrants or the private warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with sale and exercise of warrants, including the private warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

        At March 31, 2018, our net tangible book value was $(154,462), or approximately $(0.03) per share. After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (assuming the over-allotment option has not been exercised), and the deduction of underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of this offering, and the sale of the private units, our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31, 2018 would have been $5,000,008, or approximately $0.84 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.87 per share to the founders and an immediate dilution of $9.16 per share, or 91.6%, to new investors not exercising their redemption rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $196,324,530 less than it otherwise would have been because if we effect our initial business combination, the redemption rights of the public stockholders (but not our founders) may result in the redemption of up to 19,632,453 shares sold in this offering (assuming the over-allotment option has not been exercised).

        The following table illustrates the dilution to our public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the public units and the private units.

Public offering price

        $ 10.00  

Net tangible book value before this offering

  $ (0.03 )      

Net increase attributable to public stockholders and private sales

    0.87        

Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private units

          0.84  

Dilution to public stockholders

        $ 9.16  

Percentage of dilution to new investors

          91.6 %

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        The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the new investors:

 
  Shares Purchased   Total Consideration   Average
Price
per
Share
 
 
  Number   Percentage   Amount   Percentage  

Founders and Anchor Investor (with respect to founder shares)

    5,000,000 (1)   19.53 % $ 25,000     0.01 % $ 0.005  

Founders and Anchor Investor (with respect to private shares)

    600,000 (2)   2.34 %   6,000,000     2.91 % $ 10.00  

Public stockholders

    20,000,000     78.13 %   200,000,000     97.08 % $ 10.00  

Total

    25,600,000     100.0 % $ 206,025,000     100.00 %      

(1)
Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited by our founders and anchor investor as a result thereof.
(2)
Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised.

        The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:

Numerator:

       

Net tangible book value before the offering

  $ (154,462 )

Addback offering costs incurred

    179,000  

Subtotal

    24,538  

Proceeds from this offering and private placements of private units, net of expenses

    201,300,000  

Less: Shares subject to redemption to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001

    (196,324,530 )

  $ 5,000,008  

Denominator:

       

Shares of common stock outstanding prior to this offering

    5,750,000  

Less: Shares forfeited if over-allotment option is not exercised

    (750,000 )

Shares of common stock to be sold as part of the public units

    20,000,000  

Shares of common stock to be sold as part of the private units

    600,000  

Less: Shares subject to redemption to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001

    (19,632,453 )

    5,967,547  

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CAPITALIZATION

        The following table sets forth our capitalization at March 31, 2018, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units offered by this prospectus and the private units, and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:

 
  As at March 31, 2018  
 
  Actual   As Adjusted(1)  

Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, subject to redemption(2)

        196,324,530  

Stockholders' equity:

             

Preferred shares, par value $0.0001, 1,000,000 authorized; none issued or outstanding

         

Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 5,967,547 issued and outstanding (excluding 19,632,453 shares subject to possible redemption), as adjusted

    575     597  

Additional paid-in capital(3)

    24,425     4,999,873  

Accumulated deficit

    (462 )   (462 )

Total stockholders' equity:

    24,538     5,000,008  

Total capitalization

  $ 24,538     201,324,538  

(1)
Includes $6,000,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units. Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited.
(2)
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. The "as adjusted" number of share of common stock, subject to redemption equals the "as adjusted" total assets of $201,324,538, less the "as adjusted" total stockholders' equity. The value of the shares of common stock that may be redeemed is equal to $10.00 per share (which is the assumed redemption price), multiplied by 19,632,453 shares of common stock, which is the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be redeemed for a $10.00 purchase price per share and still maintain at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets.
(3)
The "as adjusted" additional paid-in capital calculation is equal to the "as adjusted" total stockholders' equity of $5,000,008, minus shares of common stock (par value) of 597, minus the accumulated deficit of $(462).

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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

        We are a blank check company newly formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our "initial business combination." We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive business discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our common equity or any preferred equity that we may create in accordance with the terms of our charter documents, debt, or a combination of cash, common or preferred equity and debt.

        The issuance of additional shares of common stock or the creation of one or more classes of preferred stock during our initial business combination:

        Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:

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        As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at March 31, 2018 we had $25,000 in cash, a working capital deficit of $154,462, and deferred offering costs of $179,000. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events

        We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Our liquidity needs have been satisfied to date through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the founder shares. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $700,000, and underwriting discounts and commissions of $4,000,000 (or $4,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and (2) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of $6,000,000 (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $201,300,000 (or $231,300,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of which amount $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining estimated $1,300,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $700,000 we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $700,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

        We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us), to acquire a target business or businesses and to pay our expenses relating thereto. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be

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used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business' operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders' fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.

        We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the estimated $1,300,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur approximately:

    §
    $350,000 of expenses for the search for target businesses and for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the structuring and negotiating of our initial business combination;
    §
    $350,000 of expenses for the due diligence investigation of the target by our founders, officers and directors;
    §
    $150,000 of expenses for legal and accounting fees related to SEC reporting obligations;
    §
    $240,000 of expenses (equal to $10,000 per month) for administrative fees payable to our sponsor;
    §
    $75,000 of Nasdaq continued listing fees; and
    §
    $135,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses, liquidation obligations and reserves.

        If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

        As of March 31, 2018 we had $25,000 in cash and a working capital deficit of $154,462. We expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Controls and Procedures

        We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial

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business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:

    §
    staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
    §
    reconciliation of accounts;
    §
    proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
    §
    evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
    §
    documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
    §
    documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

        Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively also may take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.

Related Party Transactions

        In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares). Prior to the initial investment of $25,000 by our founders, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private shares) upon the consummation of this offering. Up to 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture, depending on the extent to which the underwriter's over-allotment option is exercised.

        We are obligated, commencing on the date of this prospectus, to pay our sponsor a monthly fee of an aggregate of $10,000 for office space and general and administrative services. Additionally, we have issued two promissory notes, one to our sponsor and a second to Cowen Investments, both dated as of March 1, 2018. Each of the individual notes is in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000. The notes both contain a drawdown feature such that at any time prior to the consummation of this offering we may draw up to an aggregate of $100,000 on each of the notes for general working capital expenses. The notes are both non-interest bearing and will mature on such date as is the earlier of the date on which we close this offering and June 30, 2018.

        Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our

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audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

        We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our founders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

        Our founders and anchor investor have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering and the over-allotment option, as applicable. All of the proceeds we receive from the purchase of the private units will be placed in the trust account described below.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro

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rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into with each of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and the holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, the holders have certain "piggyback" registration rights applicable to registration statements filed after our consummation of an initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand or "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lockup restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. Please see " Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions " for additional information.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

        The amounts in the trust account, will be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results

        As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.

JOBS Act

        On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will

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qualify as an "emerging growth company" and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

        Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an "emerging growth company", we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm's attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,(iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements(auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO's compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an "emerging growth company," whichever is earlier.

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PROPOSED BUSINESS

General

        We are a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any potential initial business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential initial business combination target.

        We will seek to capitalize on the significant experience and contacts of our management team to complete our initial business combination. Although we may pursue our initial business combination in any business, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus on opportunities to capitalize on the ability of our management team, particularly our executive officers, to identify, acquire and operate a business in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which we believe has many potential target businesses. Following our initial business combination, our objective will be to implement or support the acquired business' growth and operating strategies.

        Over the last several years, there has been an increase in private equity and venture backed capital invested in the automotive/transportation technology sector. Global venture capital funding in the transportation industry increased from less than $1 billion in 2012 to approximately $16 billion in 2016, according to a 2017 Crunchbase report. However, there have been relatively few initial public offerings of business in this industry in recent years, with only 20 initial public offerings of automotive businesses in the past five years based on a data screen obtained from Capital IQ that only considered non-over-the-counter automotive initial public offerings and spin-offs in North America with an enterprise value of greater than $50.0 million. We believe that these trends provide opportunities for us to identify private businesses that would benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets, as well as our management team's deep experience in these industries.

        We believe that our management team is well positioned to identify attractive businesses within the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries that would benefit from access to the public markets and the skills of our management team. Our objective is to consummate our initial business combination with such a business and enhance stockholder value by helping it to identify and recruit management, identify and complete additional acquisitions, implement operational improvements, and expand its product offerings and geographic footprint. We intend to utilize our management team's experience and contacts in these industries to achieve this objective. We believe many businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries could benefit from access to the public markets but have been unable to do so due to a number of factors, including the time it takes to conduct a traditional initial public offering, market volatility and pricing uncertainty. We intend to focus on evaluating more established companies with leading competitive positions, strong management teams and strong long-term potential for growth and profitability.

        Stephen Girsky, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management,

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global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co.

        Mary Chan, our Chief Operating Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan joined General Motors in 2012 as President, Global Connected Consumer. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, Ms. Chan worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, she was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

        Steve Shindler, our Chief Financial Officer, is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In recent years Mr. Shindler has overseen a financial restructuring of the company that has included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

        The past performance of the members of our management team or their affiliates is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management or any of their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance. None of our officers or directors has had any experience with any blank check companies in the past.

Business Strategy

        Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that complements the experience of our management team and can benefit from our management team's expertise. Our selection process is expected to leverage our management

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team's contacts in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries globally, which we believe will provide us with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. Our management team has experience:

        Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our management team and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.

Business Combination Criteria

        Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and, in evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria or guidelines.

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        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.

Competitive Strengths

        We believe we have the following competitive strengths:

Status as a Public Company

        We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. We believe target businesses might find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, roadshow and public reporting efforts that will likely not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us. Furthermore, once the business combination is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters' ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders' interests than it would have as a privately-held company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company's profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. However there is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop. As a result, this purported benefit may not be realized.

        While we believe that our status as a public company will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view the inherent limitations in our status as a blank check company as a deterrent and may prefer to effect a business combination with a more established entity or with a private company. These inherent limitations include limitations on our available financial resources, which may be inferior to those of other entities pursuing the acquisition of similar target businesses; the requirement that we seek stockholder approval of a business combination or conduct a tender offer in relation thereto, which may delay the consummation of a transaction; and the existence of our outstanding warrants, which may represent a source of future dilution.

Financial Position and Flexibility

        With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) assuming no redemptions, and the possibility of further supplementing this amount with the proceeds from the $25,000,000 contingent forward purchase agreement, we can offer a target business a variety of options to facilitate a business combination and fund future expansion and growth of its business. Because we are able to consummate a business combination using the cash proceeds from this offering, our share capital,

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debt or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use an efficient structure allowing us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to address the needs of the parties. However, if a business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay for the purchase price, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing. Accordingly, our flexibility in structuring a business combination may be subject to these constraints.

Offering Structure

        Unlike other blank check companies that sell units comprised of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase a full share of common stock in their initial public offerings, we are selling units comprised of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of our common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. Our management believes that investors in similarly structured blank check offerings, and those likely to invest in this offering, have come to expect the units of such companies to include one share of common stock and another security which would allow the holders to acquire additional shares of common stock. Without the ability to acquire such additional shares of common stock, our management believes the investors would not be willing to purchase units in such companies' initial public offerings. Accordingly, because, in our case, the ratio of warrant shares to shares of common stock included in a given purchase of units in this offering is less than the proportion of warrant shares to shares of common stock included in a given purchase of units in the typical structure of other blank check initial public offerings, our management believes we will be viewed more favorably by potential target businesses when determining which company to engage in a business combination with. However, our management may be incorrect in this belief.

Initial Business Combination

General

        We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private units, the forward purchase securities, our common and preferred equity (if any), new debt, or a combination of these, as the consideration to be paid in effecting a business combination which has not yet been identified. Accordingly, investors in this offering are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

        We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account and as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to

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our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

We Have Not Identified a Target Business

        To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate such companies. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to locate a target business or that we will be able to engage in a business combination with a target business on favorable terms or at all.

        Subject to our officers' and directors' pre-existing fiduciary duties and the limitation that a target business have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Except for the general criteria and guidelines set forth above under the caption " Business Strategy ," we have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of financially unstable and early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.

Sources of Target Businesses

        While we have not yet identified any acquisition candidates, we believe based on our combined team's business knowledge and past experience that there are numerous acquisition candidates. We expect that our principal means of identifying potential target businesses will be through the extensive contacts and relationships of our management team. While our founders, executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specific amount of time in identifying or performing due diligence on potential target businesses, our founders, executive officers and directors believe that the relationships they have developed and their access to their contacts and resources will generate a number of potential business combination opportunities that will warrant further investigation. We also anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our founders, executive officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. Our executive officers and directors must present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations. Cowen Investments is

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under no obligation to present us with potential acquisition targets. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis other than with respect to the Business Combination Marketing Agreement described under "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Business Combination Marketing Agreement," we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder's fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm's length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In no event, however, will our sponsor, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates be paid any finder's fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the $10,000 administrative services fee, the repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses.

        Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to our sponsor, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. We have no present intention to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with any of our founders, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates. However, we are not restricted from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (i) such transaction is approved by a majority of our disinterested independent directors and (ii) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination

        Subject to our executive officers' and directors' pre-existing fiduciary duties and the limitations that target businesses have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, and that we must acquire a controlling interest in the target business, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. Except for the general criteria and guidelines set forth above under the caption " Business Strategy ," we have not established any specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:

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        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.

        The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.

Fair Market Value of Target Business

        The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target

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business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

        We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if our Board of Directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.

Lack of Business Diversification

        For an indefinite period of time after consummation of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target's Management Team

        Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business' management may not prove to be correct. The future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. Consequently, members of our management team may not become a part of the target's management team, and the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Further, it is also not certain whether one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination. Moreover, members of our management team may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business. Our key personnel may not remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

        Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We may not have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination

        In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), or (2) provide our stockholders

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with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. We will seek stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, provided, that we may also decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

        Under Nasdaq rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

        If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each stockholder may tender any or all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies which require stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related redemptions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combination even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such stockholder vote and allow our stockholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the shares of common stock voted at a stockholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination.

        We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, we may need to have more than $5,000,001 in net tangible assets upon consummation and this may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public stockholders may therefore

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have to wait 24 months from the closing of this offering in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.

        Our founders and our executive officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, including the founder shares and the shares of common stock underlying the private units, (2) not to redeem any shares of common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any shares of common stock in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, we would need only 7,628,789, or approximately 38%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming (i) the over-allotment option is not exercised and all shares were present and entitled to vote at the meeting, (ii) 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited and (iii) there are 600,000 private shares outstanding).

Permitted Purchases of Our Securities

        None of our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or shares of common stock in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination , although they are under no obligation to do so. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. There is no limit on the number of shares or warrants such persons may purchase, or any restriction on the price that they may pay. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions.

        In the event our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates determine to make any such purchases of public shares at the time of a stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. If any or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We cannot currently determine whether any of our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as that would be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to the timing and size of any such purchase. Depending on the circumstances, any of our insiders may decide to make purchases of our securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or may determine that acting pursuant to such a plan is not required under the Exchange Act.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees and their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom they may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling

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stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against the business combination.

        We do not currently anticipate that purchases of our public shares or public warrants by any of our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of our founders, directors, director nominees, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will purchase shares of our common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption Rights

        At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public stockholders may seek to redeem their shares of common stock without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid (which taxes may be paid only from the interest earned on the funds in the trust account). Alternatively, we may provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of common stock to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid.

        We may also require public stockholders seeking redemption, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in "street name," to either (i) tender their certificates to our transfer agent or (ii) deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option, in each case prior to a date set forth in the proxy materials sent in connection with the proposal to approve the business combination.

        There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced delivery process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require stockholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to stockholders.

        Any proxy solicitation materials we furnish to stockholders in connection with a vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring stockholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a stockholder would have from the time the stockholder received our proxy statement up until the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination to deliver his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not he is a record holder or his shares are held in "street name," in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his broker and

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requesting delivery of his shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. Please see the risk factor titled " We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights " for further information on the risks of failing to comply with these requirements.

        The foregoing is different from the procedures historically used by some blank check companies. Traditionally, in order to perfect redemption rights in connection with a blank check company's business combination, the company would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders' vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him to deliver his certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an "option window" after the consummation of the business combination during which he could monitor the price of the company's stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he could sell his shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become a "continuing" right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a holder's election to redeem his shares is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.

        Any request to redeem such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered his certificate in connection with an election of their redemption and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the proposed business combination not to elect to exercise such rights, he may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).

        If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.

Liquidation if No Business Combination

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete an initial business combination. If we have not completed an initial business combination by such date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions

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with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed (pursuant to a written letter agreement with us filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would stop our public stockholders from redeeming their shares of common stock in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, net of franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our founders, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person.

        Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our outstanding public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder's pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

        Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidation distribution. If we are unable to complete a business combination within the prescribed time frame, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24-month anniversary of the closing of this offering, and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could

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potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.

        Because we will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.

        We are required to use our reasonable best efforts to have all third parties (including any vendors or other entities we engage after this offering) and any prospective target businesses enter into agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result, the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account to our public stockholders. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you of this fact as there is no guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party's engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Our underwriters and auditor are the only third parties we are currently aware of that may not execute a waiver. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account.

        In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below: (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in certain instances. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.00 per share.

        We anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating such assets promptly after such date and anticipate it will take no more than ten business days to effectuate such distribution. Our founders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares and private shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless. We will pay the costs of any subsequent liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account and the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that we are permitted to withdraw to pay such expenses.

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        If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share redemption price would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of public stockholders.

        Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our failure to complete a business combination within the required time period or if the stockholders seek to redeem their respective shares upon a business combination which is actually completed by us or upon certain amendments to our charter documents as described elsewhere herein. In no other circumstances shall a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

        Our founders will not participate in any redemption distribution from our trust account with respect to such founder shares. Additionally, any loans made by our officers, directors, sponsors or their affiliates for working capital needs will be forgiven and not repaid if we are unable to complete an initial business combination.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public stockholders at least $10.00 per share.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a "preferential transfer" or a "fraudulent conveyance." As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly after twenty-four months from the date of this prospectus, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. These provisions, including provisions regarding the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least 65% of our common stock. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would stop our public stockholders from redeeming or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will provide dissenting public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our founders, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person. Our founders, executive

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officers and directors have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them, and any public shares they may hold in connection with any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:

Competition

        In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.

        The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:

    §
    our obligation to seek stockholder approval of a business combination or engage in a tender offer may delay the completion of a transaction;
    §
    our obligation to redeem shares of common stock held by our public stockholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination;
    §
    our outstanding warrants, and the potential future dilution they represent.

        Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage

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over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.

        If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.

Facilities

        We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543. The cost for this space is included in the $10,000 per-month aggregate fee our sponsor will charge us for general and administrative services commencing on the date of this prospectus pursuant to a letter agreement between us and our sponsor. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Mamaroneck area, that the fee charged by our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.

Employees

        We have four executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once a suitable target business to acquire has been located, management will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time on our affairs) than had been spent prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.

Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements

        We have registered our units, common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.

        We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.

        We may be required to have our internal control procedures audited for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

Legal Proceedings

        There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team.

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COMPARISON OF THIS OFFERING TO THOSE OF BLANK CHECK COMPANIES SUBJECT TO RULE 419

        The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.

 
  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Escrow of offering proceeds

  $200,000,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), which includes the $6,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the private units (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee.   $176,400,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $202,860,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.

Investment of net proceeds

 

$200,000,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), which includes the $6,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the private units (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), held in trust will be invested in United States "government securities" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.

 

Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Receipt of interest on escrowed funds

 

Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by any taxes paid or payable and up to $100,000 payable for dissolution expenses.

 

Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our consummation of a business combination.

Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business

 

Our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination.

 

The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.

Trading of securities issued

 

The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The public shares and public warrants may begin trading separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering, such Form 8-K to be amended or supplemented with updated financial information in the event the over-allotment option is exercised or if Cowen permits separate trading prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus and we have issued a press release announcing when separate trading will begin.

 

No trading of the units or the underlying public shares or warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.

Exercise of the warrants

 

The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering and, accordingly, will be exercised only after the trust account has been terminated and distributed.

 

The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Election to remain an investor

 

We will either (1) give our stockholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less taxes. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each stockholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under Delaware law and our bylaws, we must provide at least 10 days advance notice of any meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to exercise their rights to redeem their shares for cash or to remain an investor in our company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. Under the tender offer rules, a tender offer must remain open for 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to sell their shares to us in such a tender offer or to remain an investor in our company.

 

A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company's registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45 th  business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Business combination deadline

 

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

If an acquisition has not been consummated within 18 months after the effective date of the company's registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Release of funds

 

Except for interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period;, (3) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders' rights or pre-business combination activity.

 

The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and the failure to effect our initial business combination within the allotted time.

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MANAGEMENT

        Our current directors, executive officers and director nominees are listed below.

Name
  Age   Position

Stephen Girsky

    55   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mary Chan

    55   Chief Operating Officer

Steve Shindler

    55   Chief Financial Officer

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant

    50   Treasurer

Robert Gendelman

    59   Director Nominee*

Sarah W. Hallac

    53   Director Nominee*

Richard J. Lynch

    69   Director Nominee*

Victoria McInnis

    56   Director Nominee*

*
This individual will occupy the position of director on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

         Stephen Girsky has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since January 2018. Mr. Girsky is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management, global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co. We believe Mr. Girsky is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive leadership and business experience, together with his strong background in finance and public company governance.

         Mary Chan has served as our Chief Operating Officer since January 2018. Ms. Chan is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan served as President, Global Connected Consumer of General Motors from May 2012 to May 2015. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, she worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, Ms. Chan was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and

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Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

         Steve Shindler has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2018. Mr. Shindler is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer of NII, Mr. Shindler guided the company through a financial restructuring that included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile, as well as a voluntary petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in September 2014, where he continued in the Chief Executive Officer role following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2015. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

         Mindy Luxenberg-Grant has served as our Treasurer since January 2018. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant is the Chief Financial Officer of VectoIQ LLC. Prior to joining VectoIQ LLC, Ms. Luxenberg-Grant was a Founder and has served as Chief Financial Officer of Headhaul Capital Partners LLC since April 2013. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant was also the Chief Financial Officer of Jefferies Capital Partners LLC and its predecessors from 1997 to 2009. She was a Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she specialized in business assurances and tax services as part of its Entrepreneurial Advisory Services group and serviced exclusively venture capital and private investment fund clients. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant also spent two years as the Chief Financial Officer of Western NIS Enterprise Fund, a venture capital fund which invested in small and medium-sized companies based primarily in the Ukraine.

         Robert Gendelman will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Mr. Gendelman has served as Senior Portfolio Manager and head of Equity Investments at Loews Corporation, a diversified holding company, since January 2013. Prior to joining Loews Corporation, Mr. Gendelman was Chief Investment Officer for RG Advisors, and prior to that was Managing Director at Clearbridge Advisors, where he managed assets for Legg Mason Partners Capital & Income Fund. He also spent approximately 10 years as a portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman. We believe Mr. Gendelman is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive experience in the financial services industry and evaluating investments.

         Sarah W. Hallac will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Ms. Hallac has served as a consultant for a corporate philanthropic initiative by BlackRock, Inc., an investment management corporation. Ms. Hallac is a retired investment banker from Bear, Stearns and Company, where she spent her entire career in the Financial Analytics and Structured Transactions group. Ms. Hallac was involved in the early days of mortgage securitization including the first Agency Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). Ms. Hallac has been published in several books, including The Handbook of Mortgage-Backed Securities. We believe Ms. Hallac is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on her extensive experience in investment banking and evaluating investments.

         Richard J. Lynch will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Mr. Lynch has served as President of FB Associates, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in the telecommunications industry, since October 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Lynch held the positions of

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Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer with Verizon Communications and with Verizon Wireless and its predecessors. Mr. Lynch currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN) and a director of Blackberry Limited (NYSE: BB). We believe Mr. Lynch is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive leadership experience in the technology industry and serving on the Boards of public companies.

         Victoria McInnis will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Ms. McInnis held various positions with General Motors Corporation prior to her retirement in August 2017, including Vice President, Tax and Audit March 2015 to August 2017, Chief Tax Officer from 2009 to March 2015 and, prior to that, Executive Director, Tax Counsel, General Tax Director, Europe, Director of Federal Tax Audits, and Senior Tax Counsel, GM Canada. We believe Ms. McInnis is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on her extensive experience in the automotive industry and her financial expertise.

        On March 4, 2014, a purported class action lawsuit was filed against NII and certain of NII's current and former directors and executive officers (including Mr. Shindler) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the securities of NII between February 25, 2010 and February 27, 2014. In September 2016, a settlement was entered into that fully released all claims against the individual defendants.

Other Advisors

        In addition to our management, the investors noted below have invested in our sponsor individually or through their affiliates. None of these individuals are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs; however, we anticipate that certain of these individuals may provide us referrals to potential target businesses, and be available from time to time to consult with us regarding potential business combination opportunities.

         Daniel F. Akerson served as Vice Chairman of The Carlyle Group from March 2014 to December 2015. Mr. Akerson was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Company from January 2011 until his retirement in January 2014. He was elected to the Board of Directors of General Motors Company in 2009 and was Chief Executive Officer from September 2010 to December 2010. Prior to joining General Motors Company, he was a Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, serving as the Head of Global Buyout from July 2009 to August 2010 and as Co-Head of U.S. Buyout from June 2003 to June 2009. Prior to his time at GM and Carlyle, he held a variety of executive roles including Chairman and CEO of XO Communications (1999-2003), Chairman and CEO of Nextel Communications, Inc. (1996-2001), Chairman and CEO of General Instrument (1993-1995) and Executive Vice President, President and COO of MCI Communications (1983-1993). Mr. Akerson currently serves as Chairman of the United States Naval Academy Foundation, Chairman of KrolLDiscovery, LLC, an information services company, and as a member of the board of directors of Lockheed Martin.

         Noriaki Hirakata is currently an advisor at VectoIQ, LLC. Prior to that, Mr. Hirakata was Team Leader of the Alliance Strategy Division at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. At Mitsubishi, he was responsible for strategy development for the Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors alliance, directly reporting to the CEO. Mr. Hirakata was instrumental in forging the agreement between the two automotive manufacturers and played a leading role in developing the alliance's medium-term product, technology and strategic plans. Prior to Mitsubishi, he served as Head of Investor Relations at Nexon Co, playing an integral part in the firm's ¥600B initial public offering. Before Nexon, Mr. Hirakata was managing director and equity analyst at Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities. During his 16 years at Morgan Stanley MUFG, he won top research analyst awards as the lead Japanese

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automotive analyst. Prior to Morgan Stanley MUFG, Mr. Hirakata was an analyst and fund manager in the Institutional Investment Division of Yasuda Mutual Life.

         Stefan Jacoby has had more than 30 years of broad international experience in the automotive industry including more than 11 years of experience as a CEO and executive Vice President. Mr. Jacoby served as executive Vice President of General Motors, President of General Motors International Operations and was a member of the Global Executive leadership team until March 2018. Prior to joining General Motors, Mr. Jacoby was the Global CEO and President of Volvo Car Corporation, and prior to that was the CEO and President of Volkswagen Group of America. Prior to those roles at Volkswagen Group of America, he also held the roles of Executive Vice President of Group Marketing and Sales at Volkswagen, as well as CEO and President at Mitsubishi Motors Europe. Mr. Jacoby currently sits on the board of GM Korea and has had past board experience at Volvo Car Corporation, Auto Alliance, Volkswagen AG, and a JV company of Volkswagen AG, SAIC and FAW. He has also been a member of supervisory boards at LeasePlan Corporation, Volkswagen Financial Services AG and Europcar.

         James Millstein is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Millstein & Co., a financial advisory firm. From 2009 to March 2011, Mr. Millstein was the Chief Restructuring Officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In that role, he was responsible for oversight and management of the Department's largest investments in the financial sector and was the principal architect of AIG's restructuring and recapitalization. Prior to joining the Treasury, Mr. Millstein served as Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Corporate Restructuring at Lazard from 2000 to 2008. Before joining Lazard, Mr. Millstein was Partner and Head of the Corporate Restructuring practice at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.

         Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann is a senior executive with 25 years of international business experience in the semiconductor and automotive industries. Dr. Neumann served as the Senior Vice President at General Motors and was CEO of Adam Opel AG. Prior to that, Dr. Neumann was the CEO and President of Volkswagen Group China. At Volkswagen, he held several other roles including Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group, Electromobility. Prior to that, he held various executive roles at Continental AG, including CEO, CTO and acting CFO. Dr. Neumann started his career at Motorola and held a number of roles including Design Engineer, Senior Systems Engineer and Director of Strategy and Advanced System Laboratories.

Number, Terms of Office and Election of Executive Officers and Directors

        Our Board of Directors is divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Mr. Robert Gendelman and Mr. Richard Lynch will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Mr. Stephen Girsky, Ms. Victoria McInnis and Ms. Sarah Hallac, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq).

        Our executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our Board of Directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our executive officers may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

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Director Independence

        Nasdaq requires that a majority of our board must be composed of "independent directors," which is defined generally as a person other than an executive officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of our Board of Directors would interfere with the director's exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

        Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, Mr. Gendelman, Ms. Hallac, Mr. Lynch and Ms. McInnis will be our independent directors. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors.

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

        Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, which funds will be used to pay for office space and general and administrative services. This arrangement is being agreed to by our sponsor for our benefit and is not intended to provide such affiliate compensation in lieu of a salary. We believe that such fees are at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated third party for such services.

        Except as set forth above, no compensation will be paid to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, executive officers, directors or our or their affiliates.

        After the completion of our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us, may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommenced, to the Board of Directors for determination, either by a committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our Board of Directors.

        We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management's motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

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Committees of the Board of Directors

        Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our Board of Directors will have two standing committees, an audit committee and a compensation committee. Each of our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board and will have the composition and responsibilities described below.

Audit Committee

        Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Robert Gendelman, Ms. Sarah Hallac and Ms. Victoria McInnis will serve as members of our audit committee. Ms. McInnis will serve as chairman of the audit committee. Under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit committee all of whom must be independent. Mr. Gendelman, Ms. Hallac, and Ms. McInnis are independent.

        Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. McInnis qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in applicable SEC rules.

        We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

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Compensation Committee

        Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The members of our Compensation Committee will be Mr. Richard Lynch and Ms. Sarah Hallac. Mr. Lynch will serve as chairman of the compensation committee. We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:

        The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.

Director Nominations

        We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by applicable law or stock exchange rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq listing rules, all such

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directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.

        Prior to our initial business combination, the board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at an annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the Board should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.

        We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the Board of Directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our shareholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our Board of Directors.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

        We have adopted a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. We will file a copy of our form of Code of Ethics and our audit committee charter as exhibits to the registration statement. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov . In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. For additional details, please see " Where You Can Find Additional Information ."

Conflicts of Interest

        Investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:

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        In general, executive officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

        Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.

        In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of our execution of a definitive agreement for a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he or she ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations he or she might have. Accordingly, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our executive officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have.

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        Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers, directors and director nominees currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations.

Individual
  Entity   Entity's Business   Affiliation

Stephen Girsky

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Managing Partner

  United States Steel Corporation   Steel production   Director

  Brookfield Business Partners Limited   Business services and industrials   Director

  Drive.ai   Autonomous vehicle software   Director

  Valens Semiconductor   Semiconductor provider   Director

  Millstein & Co.   Financial advisory firm   Director

Mary Chan

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Managing Partner

  Magna International Inc.   Global automotive supplier   Director

  Dialog Semiconductor PLC   Semiconductor manufacturer   Director

  SBA Communications Corporation   Wireless infrastructure provider   Director

  Microelectronics Technology Inc   Communications equipment provider   Director

  WiTricity Corporation   Wireless electric vehicle charging technology   Director

  Service King   Automotive collision repair   Director

Steve Shindler

  NII Holdings, Inc.   Mobile communications services provider   Director

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Chief Financial Officer

Robert Gendelman

  Loews Corporation   Diversified holding company   Senior Portfolio Manager, Head of Equity Investments

Richard J. Lynch

  FB Associates, LLC   Consulting   President

  Ribbon Communications Inc.   Communications equipment   Director

  Blackberry Limited   Enterprise software   Director

        In addition, our executive officers and directors have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an executive officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering.

        If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our founders, as well as all of our executive officers, directors and director nominees, have agreed to vote any shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their founder shares or the shares of common stock underlying the private units. If they purchase shares of common stock as part of this offering or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to participate in any liquidation distribution in respect of such shares but have agreed not to redeem or sell such shares to us in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination.

        All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our sponsor, executive officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested "independent" directors or the members of our Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested "independent" directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our shares of common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus and private units, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:

        Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the forward purchase securities or any shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.

 
  Prior to Offering   After Offering(2)  
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
  Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
common stock(3)
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
  Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock(4)
 

VectoIQ Holdings, LLC(5)

    3,805,394     66.2 %   3,651,212     14.3 %

Cowen Investments, LLC

    1,449,000     25.2 %   1,460,000     5.7 %

BlackRock, Inc.(6)

    435,606     7.6 %   428,788     1.7 %

Stephen Girsky(7)

    3,805,394     66.2 %   3,651,212     14.3 %

Mary Chan(7)

                 

Steve Shindler(7)

                 

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant(7)

                 

Robert Gendelman

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Sarah W. Hallac

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Richard J. Lynch

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Victoria McInnis

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

All directors and officers as a group (8 individuals)

    3,865,394     67.2 %   3,711,212     14.5 %

*
Less than one percent
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543.
(2)
Assumes (i) no exercise of the over-allotment option, (ii) an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock have been forfeited by our founders and anchor investor and (iii) 600,000 private units have been purchased by our founders and anchor investor simultaneously with the consummation of this offering.
(3)
Based on 5,750,000 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to this offering.
(4)
Based on 25,600,000 shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering.
(5)
Represents shares held by our sponsor. The shares held by our sponsor are beneficially owned by Stephen Girsky, President and Chief Executive Officer and the manager of our sponsor, who has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by our sponsor.
(6)
The registered holders of the referenced shares are funds and accounts under management by investment adviser subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. is the ultimate parent holding company of such investment adviser entities. On behalf of such investment adviser entities, the applicable portfolio managers, as a managing directors of such entities, have voting and

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    investment power over the shares held by the funds and accounts which are the registered holders of the referenced shares. Such portfolio managers expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares held by such funds and accounts. The address of such funds and accounts, such investment adviser subsidiaries and such portfolio managers is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.

(7)
Ms. Chan, Mr. Shindler and Ms. Luxenberg-Grant hold economic interests in our sponsor and pecuniary interests in the securities held by our sponsor. Each of Ms. Chan, Mr. Shindler and Ms. Luxenberg-Grant disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein.

        Immediately after this offering (without the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option), our founders, anchor investor, executive officers and directors will beneficially own approximately 22% of our issued and outstanding common stock (assuming our founders do not purchase any public units), with our sponsor beneficially owning approximately 14.3% of such issued and outstanding common stock.

        Because of this ownership block, our founders, together, and our sponsor acting alone, may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors, amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions.

        To the extent the underwriters do not exercise the over-allotment option, up to an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture. Our founders and anchor investor will be required to forfeit only a number of founder shares necessary to maintain a 20% ownership interest in our shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering (assuming that they do not purchase any units in this offering and without giving effect to the sale of the private units) after giving effect to the offering and without giving effect to the exercise, if any, of the underwriters' over-allotment option. Our sponsor may forfeit up to 504,182 founder shares, the anchor investor may forfeit up to 56,818 founder shares and Cowen Investments may forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

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        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        Subject to certain limited exceptions, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then all of such shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares.

        During the lock-up period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except (1) to any persons (including their affiliates and members) participating in the private placement of the private units, (2) amongst our founders or to our officers, directors and employees, (3) if a holder is an entity, as a distribution to its, partners, stockholders or members upon its liquidation, (4) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder's immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a holder or a member of a holder's immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (5) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (6) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (7) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities, (8) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of the Company's initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the applicable securities were originally purchased or (9) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, in each case (except for clause 9) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the insider letter. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, there will be no liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, there will be no liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares, the private units or the securities underlying the private units.

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        Our founders and anchor investor have committed that they and/or their respective designees will purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised) at $10.00 per unit, among which 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering, provided that the additional private units whose purchase is triggered by the exercise of the over-allotment option will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of public units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except the private warrants will be non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. In addition, for as long as the private warrants are held by Cowen Investments or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have agreed (and any of their permitted transferees will agree) (A) to vote their private shares in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, (C) not to redeem any private shares or private units (and underlying securities) in connection with a stockholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination and (D) that such private shares and private units (and underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated, until all of the claims of any redeeming stockholders and creditors are fully satisfied (and then only from funds held outside the trust account). Additionally, the purchasers of the private units have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the private shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any private shares

Registration Rights

        Our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the founder shares, the private units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans, pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the date of this prospectus. The holders of the private units (or underlying securities) are entitled to demand that the Company register these securities at any time after the Company consummates a Business Combination. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights on registration statements filed after the Company's consummation of a Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and

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"piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing such registration statement.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        On February 15, 2018, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our founders for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.004 per share. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. Up to 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor to the extent the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised.

        Subject to certain limited exceptions, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares.

        Our founders and anchor investor have committed that they and/or their respective designees will purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised) at $10.00 per unit, among which 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases shall take place as private placements simultaneously with the sale of the public units in this offering. Our founders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private shares or the shares of common stock underlying the private units (except to certain permitted transferees as described below) until the earlier of (i) one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (ii) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. The purchasers of the private units have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the private shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any private shares.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward

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purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        On March 1, 2018, we issued two promissory notes, one to our sponsor and a second to Cowen Investments. Each of the individual notes is in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000. The notes both contain a drawdown feature such that at any time prior to the consummation of this offering we may draw up to an aggregate of $100,000 on each of the notes for general working capital expenses. The notes are both non-interest bearing and will mature on such date as is the earlier of the date on which we close this offering and June 30, 2018.

        In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our founders, executive officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

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        The holders of our founder shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units and any units our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the founder shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the founders' units or units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        Our sponsor has agreed that, commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the earlier of our consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation, it will make available to us certain general and administrative services, including office space and general and administrative services, as we may require from time to time. We have agreed to pay our sponsor an aggregate of $10,000 per month for these services.

        Other than the foregoing, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder's, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive the repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

        After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.

        All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested "independent" directors or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested "independent"

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directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

Related Party Policy

        Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

        Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. The audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party's interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party, but that director is required to provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors' and officers' questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

        These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

        To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors including (i) an entity that is either a portfolio company of, or has otherwise received a material financial investment from, any private equity fund or investment company (or an affiliate thereof) that is affiliated with any of the foregoing, (ii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently passive investors, (iii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently officers or directors, or (iv) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently invested through an investment vehicle controlled by them, unless we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, and the approval of a majority of our disinterested independent directors that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

General

        As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, 5,750,000 shares of common stock are outstanding. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. The following description summarizes the material terms of our securities. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you. For a complete description you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the form of warrant agreement, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.

Units

        Each unit consists of one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock for a price of $11.50 per whole share of common stock, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and (b) 12 months from the closing of this offering. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that the private warrants issued to Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i).

        The shares of common stock and warrants will begin to trade separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided that in no event may the shares of common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and we have issued a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. Once the shares of common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces.

        We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if Cowen has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and warrants prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus.

Common Stock

        Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 5,750,000 shares of our common stock outstanding. Our founders, anchor investor, executive officers and directors will own 20.0% of our

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issued and outstanding shares after this offering (excluding private shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Upon the closing of this offering, 25,600,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares). If we increase or decrease the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering (excluding the private shares).

        Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if a vote is held to approve a business combination, a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

        Our Board of Directors is divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Mr. Robert Gendelman and Mr. Richard Lynch, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Mr. Stephen Girsky, Ms. Victoria McInnis and Ms. Sarah Hallac, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

        In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. Our fiscal year end will be on December 31. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.

        We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.00 per public share. Our founders, executive officers,

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directors and director nominees have entered into letter agreements with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

        Unlike many blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a stockholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules.

        If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voting at a stockholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination. However, the participation of our founders, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our business combination.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders' ability to vote all of their shares for or against our business combination.

        If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our business combination, our founders have agreed to vote their founder shares, private shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, we would need only 7,628,789 of the 20,000,000 public shares, or approximately 38%, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of our initial business combination in order to have such transaction approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares without voting, and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

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        Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (1) waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock hold by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights and (2) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors or director nominees acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our business combination within the 24-month time frame.

        In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us) upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus.

Warrants

        No warrants are currently outstanding. Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering or 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

        No public warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such warrant shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within 90 days from the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement or a current prospectus, exercise

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warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. In addition, any private warrants held by Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

        The private warrants will be identical to the public warrants underlying the units being offered by this prospectus except that such private warrants will be exercisable for cash (even if a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants is not effective) or on a cashless basis, at the holder's option, and will not be redeemable by us, in each case so long as they are still held by the founders or their affiliates.

        Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (excluding the private warrants):

        We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

        If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the shares of common stock may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.

        The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

        If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a "cashless basis." In making such determination, our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum

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number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value.

        A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person's affiliates), to the warrant agent's actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

        If the number of outstanding shares of common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of common stock, or by a split-up of shares of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of common stock. A rights offering to holders of common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of common stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, in determining the price payable for common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of common stock as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

        In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of common stock on account of such shares of common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination or the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, (d) as a result of the repurchase of shares of common stock by the Company if the proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of common stock in respect of such event.

        If the number of outstanding shares of our common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or

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similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of common stock.

        Whenever the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

        In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the company as provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of common stock by the company if a proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant

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agreement based on the per share consideration minus Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.

        The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement will provide that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants.

        The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

        No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

Forward Purchase Securities

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. The forward purchase investor will have the right to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with any specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into a specific business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. If the forward purchase investor exercises such right, it will forfeit all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with

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the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

Preferred Stock

        There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock. However, the underwriting agreement prohibits us, prior to a business combination, from issuing preferred stock which participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or which votes as a class with the common stock on a business combination. We may issue some or all of the preferred stock to effect a business combination. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.

Dividends

        We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then Board of Directors. It is the present intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

        The transfer agent for our securities and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

Listing of Securities

        We anticipate that the units, as well as the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQU," "VTIQ" and "VTIQW," respectively.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Special meeting of stockholders

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our Board of Directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.

Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations

        Our bylaws will provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder's notice

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will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90 th  day nor earlier than the open of business on the 120 th  day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders' meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.

Authorized but unissued shares

        Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Exclusive Forum Selection

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder's counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits our company by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

        We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain "business combinations" with any "interested stockholder" for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

        Generally, a "business combination" includes a merger, asset or stock sale or certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with that person's affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.

        Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an "interested stockholder" to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a

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three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our sponsor and its respective affiliates, any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of our outstanding common stock and any group as to which such persons are party to, do not constitute "interested stockholders" for purposes of this provision.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be classified into two classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.

        Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.

        Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.

        These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder's investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

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SECURITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

        Immediately after this offering we will have 25,600,000 (or 29,410,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 (or 23,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the 5,000,000 founder shares (or 5,750,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 600,000 (or 660,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) private shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.

Rule 144

        Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

        Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of common stock and warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:

        Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies

        Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

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        As a result, our founders will be able to sell their founder shares and private units, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.

Registration Rights

        Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into on the date of this prospectus, our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and director nominees and their permitted transferees can demand that we register for resale the founder shares, the private Units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and, (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing such registration statement.

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units or components thereof, which we refer to collectively as our securities, assuming you purchase the securities in this offering and will hold them as capital assets within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        This discussion assumes that the one share of our common stock and warrants to acquire one whole share of our common stock will each trade separately and does not address all of the U.S. federal income and estate tax considerations that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances. In particular, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to persons subject to special rules, such as:

        The following does not discuss any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation. This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations, judicial opinions, published positions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and all other applicable authorities, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

        If an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the entity. If you are a partner in such an entity, you should consult your tax advisor.

         WE URGE PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ACQUIRING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES.

Personal Holding Company Status

        We could be subject to United States federal income tax at rates in excess of those generally applicable to corporations on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for United States federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for United States federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain

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tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation's adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).

        Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.

Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit

        No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. The price allocated to each share of common stock and the warrant should be the stockholder's tax basis in such share or warrant, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the share of common stock and the warrant based on their respective relative fair market values. The separation of the share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant comprising a unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        The foregoing treatment of the shares of common stock and warrants and a holder's purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Holders

        This section is addressed to U.S. holders of our securities. For purposes of this discussion, you are a "U.S. holder" if you are a beneficial owner of a security that is:

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Taxation of Distributions

        If we pay distributions to U.S. holders of shares of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the common stock and will be treated as described under " U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below.

        Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will constitute "qualified dividends" that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.

Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants

        Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock or warrants which may include a redemption of common stock or warrants as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in the common stock or warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock or warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

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        Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder in any such taxable transaction is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the common stock or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the common stock or the warrants based upon the then fair market values of the common stock and the warrants included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its common stock or warrants so disposed of. A U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its common stock or warrants generally will equal the U.S. holder's acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of common stock or warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. holder's initial basis for common stock received upon exercise of warrants) less, in the case of a share of common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.

Redemption of common stock

        In the event that a U.S. holder's common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under " Description of Securities—common stock " or if we purchase a U.S. holder's common stock in an open market transaction, the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as sale of the common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as described under " U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of common stock and Warrants " above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions ". Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (i) is "substantially disproportionate" with respect to the U.S. holder, (ii) results in a "complete termination" of the U.S. holder's interest in us or (iii) is "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" with respect to the U.S. holder. These tests are explained more fully below.

        In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by such U.S. holder. A U.S. holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. holder, as well as any stock the U.S. holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately following the redemption of common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holder's interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. holder does not constructively own any other stock. The redemption of the common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. holder's conversion results in a "meaningful reduction" of the U.S. holder's proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holder's proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances.

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However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a "meaningful reduction." A U.S. holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including the application of the constructive ownership rules described above.

        If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions ," above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. holder in the redeemed common stock should be added to the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.

Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant.

        Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss on the acquisition of common stock upon exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. holder's tax basis in the share of our common stock received upon exercise of the warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holder's initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder's purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under "— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit ") and the exercise price of such warrant. The U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock received upon exercise of the warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrants and will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder's tax basis in the warrant.

        The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holder's basis in the common stock received would equal the holder's basis in the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, a U.S. holder's holding period in the common stock would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the common stock would include the holding period of the warrant.

        It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. holder would be deemed to have surrendered warrants equal to the number of shares of common stock having a value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the common stock represented by the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder's tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. holder's tax basis in the common stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. holder's initial investment in the warrants exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder's purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under "— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit ") and the exercise price of such warrants. A U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock would commence on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrant.

        Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding

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periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.

Possible Constructive Distributions

        The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned " Description of Securities—Warrants ." An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment to the number of such shares or to such exercise price increases the warrant holders' proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our common stock, in each case which is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares as described under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and warrants, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).

        Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

        All U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

Non-U.S. Holders

        This section applies to you if you are a "Non-U.S. holder." A Non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of common stock and warrants who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

but does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition of a security.

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Taxation of Distributions

        In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided, that, such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a Non-U.S. holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such Non-U.S. holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a "United States real property holding corporation" (see " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

        Dividends we pay to a Non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or if a tax treaty applies are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. holders. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a "branch profits tax" at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).

Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant

        The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holder's exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under " U.S. Holders—Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant " above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described below in " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants ."

Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants

        A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or warrants (including an

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expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:

        Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).

        If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our "U.S. real property interests" equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Redemption of Common Stock

        The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holder's common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under " Description of Securities—common stock " generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. holder's common stock, as described under " U.S. Holders—Redemption of Common Stock " above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. holder will be as described above under " Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " and " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants ," as applicable.

Possible Constructive Distributions

        The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned " Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders' Warrants ." An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a Non-U.S. holder of warrants would be treated as

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receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder's proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon exercise) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our common stock which is taxable to such Non-U.S. holders as described under " Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " above. A Non-U.S. holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding under that section in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        In general, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and warrants. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty will generally satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

        All Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

FATCA Withholding Taxes

        Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the " Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act " or " FATCA ") generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any "substantial United States owners" or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity's "substantial United States owners," which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. All prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

        We are offering the units described in this prospectus through the underwriters named below. Cowen and Company, LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of this offering and as representative of the underwriters named below. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the number of units listed next to its name in the following table.

Underwriter
  Number of Units  

Cowen and Company, LLC

       

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

       

Total

    20,000,000  

        The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters must buy all of the units if they buy any of them. However, the underwriters are not required to purchase the units covered by the underwriters' option to purchase additional units as described below.

        Our public units are offered hereby subject to a number of conditions, including:

        We have been advised by the representative that the underwriters intend to make a market in our public units but that they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue making a market at any time without notice.

Option to Purchase Additional Units

        We have granted the underwriters an option to buy up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 additional units. The underwriters have 45 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option. If the underwriters exercise this option, they will each purchase additional units approximately in proportion to the amounts specified in the table above.

Underwriting Discount

        Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any units sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $             per unit from the initial public offering price. Sales of units made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters. If all the units are not sold at the initial public offering price, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Upon execution of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase the units at the prices and upon the terms stated therein.

        The following table shows the per unit and total underwriting discount we will pay to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units.

 
  No Exercise   Full Exercise  

Per Unit

  $ 0.20   $ 0.20  

Total

  $ 4,000,000   $ 4,600,000  

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        We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $700,000. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees and expenses of the underwriters' legal counsel, not to exceed $35,000.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

        We have engaged the underwriters as advisors in connection with our business combination to assist us in holding meetings with our stockholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business's attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with the potential business combination, assist us in obtaining stockholder approval for the business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination. We will pay the underwriters a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option.

Founder Shares and Private Units

        In February 2018, Cowen Investments purchased 1,449,000 founder shares. If the over-allotment option is not fully sold, Cowen Investments will forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares, such that Cowen Investments will hold 1,260,000 founder shares if the over-allotment option is not exercised. Cowen Investments (and/or its designee) has also committed to purchase from us 200,000 private units (or 220,000 private units if the underwriters' option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 (or $2,200,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised). The private units have terms and provisions that are identical to the units sold in this offering except as described under " Description of Securities—Private Units ," including that, subject to certain exceptions, the private units will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of our initial business combination and that, the warrants underlying the private units held by Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). The purchase of the private units will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Such private units and founder shares will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. Such private units and founder shares will be subject to lock-up restrictions, as required by FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1) and may not be sold during the offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or commencement of sales of the offering, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2).

No Sales of Similar Securities

        We, our executive officers and directors, and our founders will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters. Under the lock-up agreements, subject to certain exceptions, we and each of these persons may not, without the prior written approval of Cowen and Company, LLC, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or hedge our units, rights, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock. These restrictions will be in effect for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

        Cowen and Company, LLC may, at any time and in its sole discretion, release some or all the securities from these lock-up agreements. Cowen and Company, LLC will consider, among other

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factors, the holder's reasons for requesting the release, the number of securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. If the restrictions under the lock-up agreements are waived, our units, warrants and shares of common stock may become available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the completion of the Company's initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under " Principal Stockholders "). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then then the shares will be released from these restrictions on transfer. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any shares.

Indemnification

        We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we have agreed to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Nasdaq Listing

        We intend to apply for listing of our units on Nasdaq under the symbol "VTIQU" and, once the units begin separate trading, we expect our common stock and warrants to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQ" and "VTIQW", respectively.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

        In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of units during and after this offering, including:

    §
    stabilizing transactions;
    §
    short sales;
    §
    purchases to cover positions created by short sales;
    §
    imposition of penalty bids; and
    §
    syndicate covering transactions.

        Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units while this offering is in progress. Stabilization transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. These transactions may also include making short sales of our units, which involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of units than they are required to purchase in this offering and purchasing units on the open market to cover short positions created by short sales. Short sales may be "covered short sales," which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters' option to purchase additional units referred to above, or may be "naked short sales," which are short positions in excess of that amount.

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        The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing units in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.

        Naked short sales are short sales made in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchased in this offering.

        The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased units sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

        These stabilizing transactions, short sales, purchases to cover positions created by short sales, the imposition of penalty bids and syndicate covering transactions may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units. As a result of these activities, the price of our units may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the units. Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these stabilization transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Affiliations

        The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their affiliates may from time to time in the future engage with us and perform services for us or in the ordinary course of their business for which they will receive customary fees and expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of these securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in these securities and instruments.

        Except as described under "—Business Combination Marketing Agreement," we are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm's length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be

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paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriter's compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder's fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.

Conflicts of Interest

        Cowen Investments, which beneficially owns more than 10% of our outstanding common stock prior to the consummation of this offering, is an affiliate of Cowen and Company, LLC, an underwriter in this offering. As a result, Cowen and Company, LLC is deemed to have a "conflict of interest" within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA.

        Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. Rule 5121 requires that a "qualified independent underwriter," as defined in Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC has agreed to act as a "qualified independent underwriter" for this offering. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will not receive any additional compensation for acting as a qualified independent underwriter. We have agreed to indemnify Chardan Capital Markets, LLC against certain liabilities incurred in connection with acting as a "qualified independent underwriter," including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, no underwriter with a conflict of interest will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder.

Electronic Distribution

        A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of units for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter's website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter and should not be relied upon by investors.

Notice to Residents of Canada

        The units may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

        Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

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        Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

        In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "relevant member state"), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the "relevant implementation date"), an offer of units described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of our units may be made to the public in that relevant member state at any time:

    §
    to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
    §
    to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or
    §
    in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of units referred to in (a) to (c) above shall result in a requirement for us or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

        Each purchaser of units described in this prospectus located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

        For the purpose of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the units, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.

        We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of units through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

        The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange ("SIX") or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses

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under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

        Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

        This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as a "relevant person"). The units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase or otherwise acquire such units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Notice to Prospective Investors in France

        Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or by the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:

    §
    released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or
    §
    used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France.

        Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

    §
    to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d'investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Article L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;
    §
    to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or
    §
    in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1|Mbb[-or-2|Mbb[-or 3|Mbb[of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l'épargne).

        The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus is being passed upon for us by Greenberg Traurig, LLP, New York, New York. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Palo Alto, California, advised the underwriter in connection with this offering of securities.


EXPERTS

        The financial statements of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. as of March 31, 2018, and for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by RSM US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

        Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file (so long as we are a foreign private issuer, in certain cases voluntarily) annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements (if we will not be a foreign private issuer at such time) and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . You also may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facility at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

        You also may obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

Index to Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    F-2  

Balance Sheet

    F-3  

Statement of Operations

    F-4  

Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

    F-5  

Statement of Cash Flows

    F-6  

Notes to Financial Statements

    F-7  

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

        We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the Company) as of March 31, 2018, the related statements of operations, stockholders' deficit and cash flows for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Emphasis of a Matter Regarding Going Concern

        The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has a net loss and working capital deficiency. This raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters also are described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

        These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

        Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ RSM US LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.

New York, New York
April 19, 2018

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
March 31, 2018

Assets

       

Current assets:

       

Cash

  $ 25,000  

Total current assets

    25,000  

Deferred offering costs associated with initial public offering

    179,000  

Total assets

  $ 204,000  

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

       

Current liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

  $ 89,462  

Notes Payable-related parties

    90,000  

Total current liabilities

    179,462  

Commitments and Contingencies

       

Stockholders' Equity:

   
 
 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding(1)

    575  

Additional paid-in capital

    24,425  

Accumulated deficit

    (462 )

Total stockholders' equity

    24,538  

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

  $ 204,000  

(1)
This number includes up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

General and administrative expenses

  $ 462  

Net loss

  $ (462 )

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)

    5,000,000  

Basic and diluted net loss per share

  $ (0.00 )

(1)
This number excludes an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

 
  Common Stock    
   
   
 
 
  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
  Accumulated
Deficit
  Total
Stockholder's
Equity
 
 
  Shares   Amount  

Balance—January 23, 2018 (inception)

      $   $   $   $  

Issuance of common stock(1)

    5,750,000     575   $ 24,425         25,000  

Net loss

                (462 )   (462 )

Balance—March 31, 2018

    5,750,000   $ 575   $ 24,425   $ (462 ) $ 24,538  

(1)
This number includes up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

 
   
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

       

Net loss

  $ (462 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

    462  

Net cash used in operating activities

     

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

       

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

    25,000  

Proceeds from Notes Payable-related parties

    90,000  

Deferred Offering Cost

    (90,000 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    25,000  

Net increase in cash

    25,000  

Cash—beginning of the period

   
 

Cash—end of the period

  $ 25,000  

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

       

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable

  $ 89,000  

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations

        VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP. (the "Company") was incorporated in Delaware on January 23, 2018. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the "Business Combination"). Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus its search on the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which the Company believes will provide it with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. The Company is an emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.

        As of March 31, 2018, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018 relates to the Company's formation and the Proposed Public Offering described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

        The Company's sponsor is VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Sponsor"). The Company's ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering (the "Proposed Public Offering") of 20,000,000 units (each, a "Unit" and collectively, the "Units") at $10.00 per Unit (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 600,000 units (or 660,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) (each, a "Private Placement Unit" and collectively, the "Private Placement Unit") at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the Sponsor and Cowen Investments, LLC (collectively with the Sponsor, the "Founders") and certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively, the "Anchor Investor") that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.

        The Company's management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete its initial Business Combination with one or more target businesses having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account ("Trust Account"), located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations (Continued)

Company acting as trustee, and invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.

        The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001, sold in the Proposed Public Offering (the "public stockholders") with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares (as defined below in Note 3) upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares (as defined below in Note 3) for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share). These Public Shares will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 480 "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity." In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if a stockholder vote is held to approve such transaction, only if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation"), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the initial stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination or any amendment to the provisions of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to its pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), will be restricted from

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations (Continued)

redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the common stock sold in the Proposed Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.

        The Company's Founders, officers and directors (the "initial stockholders") have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company's obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock in conjunction with any such amendment.

        If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (the "Combination Period"), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, which interest shall be net of taxes payable by the Company), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company's remaining stockholders and the Company's board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company's obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

        The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial stockholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account (or potentially less in certain circumstances). In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company's indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

        The Company has a net loss and a working capital deficiency and does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the issuance of these financial statements. This raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering. There is no assurance that the Company's plans to raise capital or to complete a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the target business acquisition period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Emerging Growth Company

        Section 102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act") exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised, and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.

        This may make comparison of the Company's financial statement with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Net Loss Per Common Share

        The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, "Earnings Per Share." Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial shareholders. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 750,000 common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 4). At March 31, 2018, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Concentration of Credit Risk

        Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. At March 31, 2018, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.

Financial Instruments

        The fair value of the Company's assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Deferred Offering Costs

        Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholders' equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.

Income Taxes

        The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, "Income Taxes." Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

        FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2018. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018. The Company is

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        The Company's management does not believe that there are any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

Note 3—Public Offering

        Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale 20,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock (such shares of common stock included in the Units being offered, the "Public Shares"), and 3 / 4 of one redeemable warrant (each, a "Public Warrant"). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. Only whole Public Warrants are exercisable. The Public Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the Company's completion of an initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

        No Public Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within 90 days from the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement or a current prospectus, exercise Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis.

        The Private Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Proposed Public Offering, except that the Private Warrants and the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or such purchasers' permitted transferees and Private Warrants held by Cowen Investments LLC will not be exercisable more than five years after the effective date of the registration statement related to the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). If the Private Warrants are held by someone other than the initial shareholders or their permitted transferees, the Private Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 3—Public Offering (Continued)

        The Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption:

        If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a "cashless basis," as described in the warrant agreement.

        The exercise price and number of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrant shares. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company's assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

Note 4—Related Party Transactions

Founder Shares

        On February 15, 2018, the Founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares (the "Founder Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. The Sponsor and Cowen Investments purchased 4,301,000 and 1,449,000 of the Founder Shares, respectively. In March 2018, the Sponsor transferred 15,000 Founder Shares to each of its initial director nominees. In April 2018, the sponsor forfeited 435,606 Founder Shares and the anchor investor purchased 435,606 Founder Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894, or approximately $0.004 per share. The Founders and anchor investor have agreed to forfeit up to an aggregate of 750,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option in the Proposed Public Offering is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20.0% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding any shares underlying the Private Placement Units). If the Company increases or decreases the size of the offering, the Company will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the Founder Share ownership of the Company's stockholders prior to the Proposed Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering (excluding any shares underlying the Private Placement Units).

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4—Related Party Transactions (Continued)

        The initial stockholders will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company's stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

Private Placement Units

        The Founders and anchor investor will agree to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 Private Placement Units (or 660,000 Private Placement Units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit ($6.0 million in the aggregate, or $6.6 million if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of common stock (such shares of common stock included in the Private Placement Units, the "Private Shares"), and 3 / 4 of one redeemable warrant (each, a "Private Warrant"). Each Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6). Proceeds from the Private Placement Units will be added to proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units held in trust will be part of the liquidating distribution to the public stockholders, and the Private Warrants will expire worthless. The Private Warrants will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Founders or their permitted transferees.

        The Founders and the Company's officers and directors will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Units or the securities underlying the Private Placement Units until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company's stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

        A fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which is referred to as the "forward purchase investor," is a member of the Sponsor and has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with the Company which provides for the purchase by the forward purchase investor of 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of the Company's redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These shares and warrants will be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4—Related Party Transactions (Continued)

consummation of the Company's initial business combination. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Related Party Loans

        On March 1, 2018, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $100,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note. Also, on March 1, 2018, Cowen Investments, LLC agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $100,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a second promissory note on the same terms as the loan provided by the Sponsor. These loans are non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of June 30, 2018 or the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. To date, the Company has borrowed $90,000 under the promissory notes.

        In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company's officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required ("Working Capital Loans"). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender's discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into additional units of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. The securities would be identical to the Private Placement Units. To date, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

Administrative Support Agreement

        The Company intends to enter into an agreement, commencing on the effective the Proposed Public Offering through the earlier of the Company's consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general administrative services.

        The Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company's behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company's audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to the Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on the Company's behalf.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 5—Commitments & Contingencies

Registration Rights

        The Founders, anchor investor, and the Company's executive officers, directors and director nominees and their permitted transferees will be entitled to demand that the Company register for resale the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans. The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company's consummation of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

Underwriting Agreement

        The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

        The underwriters will be entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $4.0 million in the aggregate (or $4.6 million in the aggregate if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

        The Company intends to engage the underwriters as advisors in connection with its Business Combination pursuant to a business combination marketing agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, the Company will pay such advisors a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of an initial Business Combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option.

Note 6—Stockholders' Equity

        Common Stock —The Company is currently authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2018, there were 5,750,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Of the 5,750,000 shares of common stock, an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares are subject to forfeiture to the Company by the Sponsor, Cowen Investments, LLC and anchor investor for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters' over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding shares underlying the Private Placement Units).

        Preferred Stock —The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company's board of directors. As of March 31, 2018, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 7—Subsequent Events

        The Company has evaluated events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through April 19, 2018, the date the financial statements are available to be issued.

        On April 19, 2018, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively, the "Anchor Investor") and the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Anchor Investor purchased 435,606 Founder Shares from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894 and agreed to purchase 50,000 Private Placement Units, for an aggregate purchase price of $500,000, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Anchor Investor agreed that if it does not own the number of Public Shares equal to 2,500,000 Public Shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in the Proposed Public Offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial Business Combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of its 435,606 Founder Shares on a pro rata basis. In such a case, the Sponsor (or its designee) will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the Private Placement Units held by the Anchor Investor at their original purchase price.

        The Anchor Investor has expressed to the Company an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in the Proposed Public Offering, and the Company has agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to the Anchor Investor such number of public units. Further, the Anchor Investor has agreed with the Company that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in the Proposed Public Offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of the Company's initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to the Proposed Public Offering on a pro rata basis.

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        Until                           , 2018 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

        No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.

20,000,000 Units

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.


PROSPECTUS


Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen   Chardan

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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

        The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:

SEC Registration Fees

  $ 28,635  

FINRA Filing Fees

  $ 35,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

  $ 49,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

  $ 40,000  

Nasdaq listing expenses

  $ 75,000  

D&O insurance

  $ 125,000  

Legal fees and expenses

  $ 300,000  

Miscellaneous(1)

  $ 47,365  

Total

  $ 700,000  

(1)
This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including transfer agent and trustee fees.

Item 14.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL").

        Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.

        Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.

    (a)
    A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful.

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    (b)
    A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
    (c)
    To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
    (d)
    Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
    (e)
    Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
    (f)
    The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect

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      at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

    (g)
    A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
    (h)
    For purposes of this section, references to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
    (i)
    For purposes of this section, references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in this section.
    (j)
    The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
    (k)
    The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation's obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys' fees).

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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        In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders' derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director's duty of care.

        If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney's fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our Board of Directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.

        The right to indemnification conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

        The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

        Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective

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only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        Our bylaws, which we intend to adopt immediately prior to the closing of this offering, include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

        Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our Board of Directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

        We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this registration statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

        Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 15.    Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

        On February 15, 2018, our founders and/or their respective designees purchased from us, prior to the consummation of this offering, an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock, or "founder shares", for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, in a private placement. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        In addition, our founders and anchor investor have committed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is

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exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        An institutional investor, which holds an ownership interest in our Sponsor and which we refer to as our "forward purchase investor," has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us which provides for the purchase by the forward purchase investor of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These shares and warrants will be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        Each of our founders and our executive officers and director nominees is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

        (a)   The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:

Exhibit No.   Description
  1.1 ** Form of Underwriting Agreement

 

1.2

**

Form of Business Combination Marketing Agreement

 

3.1

*

Certificate of Incorporation

 

3.2

**

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

3.3

*

Bylaws

 

4.1

**

Specimen Unit Certificate

 

4.2

**

Specimen Common Stock Certificate

 

4.3

**

Specimen Warrant Certificate

 

4.4

**

Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company and the Company

 

5.1

**

Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, LLP

 

10.1

**

Form of Letter Agreement among the Company, and each of the sponsor, Cowen Investments, and each of the executive officers, directors and director nominees of the Company

 

10.2

**

Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company and the Company

 

10.3

*

Founder Shares Subscription Agreement, dated February 14, 2018, between the Company and sponsor

 

10.4

*

Founder Shares Subscription Agreement, dated February 14, 2018, between the Company and Cowen Investments LLC

 

10.5

**

Form of Unit Purchase Agreement between the Company and sponsor

 

10.6

**

Form of Unit Purchase Agreement between the Company and Cowen Investments LLC

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Exhibit No.   Description
  10.7 ** Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and securityholders

 

10.8

**

Form of Indemnity Agreement

 

10.9

**

Promissory Note issued in favor of sponsor, dated March 1, 2018

 

10.10

**

Promissory Note issued in favor of Cowen Investments, dated March 1, 2018

 

10.11

**

Form of Administrative Services Agreement

 

10.12

*

Forward Purchase Agreement, dated April 18, 2018, between the Company and the forward purchase investor

 

10.13

*

Securities Assignment Agreement, dated March 28, 2018, among the sponsor and director nominees of the Company

 

10.14

*

Form of Subscription Agreement between the Company, the sponsor and the anchor investors

 

14

**

Form of Code of Ethics

 

23.1

**

Consent of RSM US LLP

 

23.2

**

Consent of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (to be included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

24

*

Power of Attorney (included on signature page to the initial Registration Statement)

 

99.1

**

Audit Committee Charter

 

99.2

**

Compensation Committee Charter

 

99.3

*

Consent of Robert Gendelman

 

99.4

*

Consent of Sarah Hallac

 

99.5

*

Consent of Richard Lynch

 

99.6

*

Consent of Victoria McInnis

*
Previously filed.
**
Filed herewith.

Item 17.    Undertakings.

        (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

        (b)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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        (c)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

    (1)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

    (i)
    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
    (ii)
    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
    (iii)
    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

    (2)
    For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
    (3)
    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
    (4)
    For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
    (5)
    For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
    (6)
    For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of

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      the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

      (i)
      Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
      (ii)
      Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
      (iii)
      The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
      (iv)
      Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mamaroneck, State of New York, on the 7th day of May, 2018.

    VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEPHEN GIRSKY

        Name:   Stephen Girsky
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
  Position   Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ STEPHEN GIRSKY

Stephen Girsky
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal executive officer)   May 7, 2018

/s/ STEVE SHINDLER

Steve Shindler

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

May 7, 2018

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Exhibit 1.1

 

20,000,000 Units

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

FORM OF

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

[ · ], 2018

 

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
                        As Representative of the several Underwriters
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022

 

Dear Sirs:

 

1.                                       INTRODUCTORY .  VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ,” or, each, an “ Underwriter ”), an aggregate of 20,000,000 units (the “ Firm Units ”) of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.80 per Firm Unit.  Each Firm Unit consists of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “ Public Warrant(s) ”).  The Company also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof, up to an additional 3,000,000 units, each unit consisting of one share of Common Stock and three-fourths (3/4) of one Public Warrant (the “ Optional Units ”).  The Firm Units and the Optional Units are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the “ Public Units .”  Cowen and Company, LLC (“ Cowen ”) is acting as representative of the several Underwriters and in such capacity is hereinafter referred to as the “ Representative .”

 

The Common Stock and Public Warrants included in the Firm Units will not be separately tradable until the 52nd day after the date hereof unless the Representative informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of gross proceeds of the Offering (as defined below) and announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Public Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share during the period commencing on the later of thirty (30) days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (as defined below) or twelve (12) months from the closing of the initial public offering contemplated by this Agreement (the “ Offering ”) and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), a warrant may not be exercised for a fractional share, so that only whole warrants may be exercised at any given time by a holder thereof. As used herein, the term “ Business Combination ” (as described more fully in the Registration Statement (as defined below)) shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses involving the Company.

 

The Company has entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, effective as of [ · ], 2018, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“ CST ”), as trustee, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement (the “ Trust Agreement ”), pursuant to which the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined below) and a portion of the proceeds from the Offering will be deposited and held in a trust account (the “ Trust Account ”) for the benefit of the Company, the Underwriters and the holders of the Public Units.

 



 

The Company has entered into a Warrant Agreement, effective as of [ · ], 2018, with respect to the Warrants (as defined below) with CST, as warrant agent, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), pursuant to which CST will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants.

 

The Company has entered into certain Founder Shares Subscription Agreements (together, the “ Founders Subscription Agreements ”) dated as of February 14, 2018, with each of VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sponsor ”), and Cowen Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cowen Investments ” and, together with the Sponsor, the “ Founders ”), in the form filed as Exhibits [ · ] and [ · ], respectively, to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Sponsor and Cowen Investments purchased an aggregate of 4,301,000 shares of Common Stock and 1,449,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share (the “ Initial Founder Shares ”). On March [ · ], 2018, the Sponsor transferred 15,000 Initial Founder Shares to each of its initial director nominees.  On April [ · ], 2018, the Sponsor forfeited 435,606 Initial Founder Shares (the “ Forfeited Founder Shares ”).

 

The Company has entered into certain Subscription Agreements (collectively, the “ Anchor Subscription Agreements ” and, collectively with the Founders Subscription Agreements, the “ Founder Shares Agreements ”) dated as of April [ · ], 2018, with certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively, the “ Anchor Investors ”), in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Anchor Investors purchased an aggregate of 435,606 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894, or approximately $0.004 per share (such shares, collectively with the Initial Founder Shares (other than the Forfeited Founder Shares), the “Founder Shares ”).

 

Up to 504,182 Founder Shares, 56,818 Founder Shares and 189,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, the Anchor Investors and Cowen Investments, respectively, are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised.  The Founder Shares are substantially similar to the shares of Common Stock included in the Public Units except as described in the Prospectus.

 

The Company has entered into a certain Forward Purchase Agreement (the “ Forward Purchase Agreement ”) with a fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP providing for the sale of an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Forward Purchase Shares ”), plus three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “ Forward Purchase Warrants ” and, together with the Forward Purchase Shares, the “ Forward Purchase Securities ”) for each Forward Purchase Share, in a private placement transaction to occur concurrently with the closing of the initial Business Combination.

 

The Company has entered into certain Unit Purchase Agreements (collectively with the Anchor Subscription Agreements, the “ Unit Purchase Agreements ”) dated as of [ · ], 2018, with the Sponsor and Cowen Investments, substantially in the form filed as Exhibits [ · ] and [ · ], respectively, to the Registration Statement.  Pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements, the Sponsor, the Anchor Investors and Cowen Investments agreed to purchase 350,000 units (or up to 390,000 units depending on the extent to which the Over-Allotment Option is exercised), 50,000 units and 200,000 units (or up to 220,000 units depending on the extent to which the Over-Allotment Option is exercised), respectively, each unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “ Private Placement Shares ”) and three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “ Private Placement Units ” and, together with the Public Units, the “ Units ”). The warrants included in the Private Placement Units are referred to herein as the “ Private Placement Warrants ” and, collectively with the Public Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants, the “ Warrants .” The Private Placement Units and Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Public Units and Public Warrants, respectively, except as described in the Prospectus.

 

The Company has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2018, with the Founders and the other parties thereto (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Company has granted certain registration rights in respect of, among other securities, the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Units and underlying securities.  Pursuant to

 

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the Forward Purchase Agreements, the Company has also granted certain registration rights in respect of the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

The Company has entered into a letter agreement (the “ Insider Letter ”), dated [ · ], 2018, with the Founders and each of the Company’s executive officers, directors and director nominees prior to the Offering, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement.

 

The Company has entered into that certain administrative services agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2018, with the Sponsor (the “ Administrative Services Agreement ”), substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Company will pay to Sponsor an aggregate monthly fee of $10,000 for certain office space and administrative and support services.

 

The Company has issued those certain non-interest bearing promissory notes in favor of the Sponsor and Cowen Investments, dated as of March 1, 2018 (together, the “ Founder Promissory Note ”), in the form filed as Exhibits [ · ] and [ · ], respectively, to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Company has promised to pay to each of the Sponsor and Cowen Investments up to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000.

 

The Company has entered into that certain business combination marketing agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2018, with the Underwriters (the “ Business Combination Marketing Agreement ,” and collectively with the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founder Shares Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Unit Purchase Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter, the Administrative Services Agreement and the Founder Promissory Note, the “ Other Transaction Agreements ”), substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [ · ] to the Registration Statement.

 

The Company hereby confirms its engagement of Chardan Capital Markets, LLC  (“ Chardan ”) and Chardan hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) with respect to the Offering. Chardan, solely in its capacity as the “qualified independent underwriter” with respect to the Offering, and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the “ QIU .”

 

2.                                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters and the QIU, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date (as defined below), and agrees with the several Underwriters and the QIU, that:

 

(a)                                  Registration Statement . A registration statement of the Company on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[ · ]) (including all amendments thereto filed before the execution of this Agreement, the “ Initial Registration Statement ”) in respect of the Public Units, Public Shares (as defined below) and Public Warrants has been filed with the Commission. The Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form and meet the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “ Rules and Regulations ”). Other than (i) the Initial Registration Statement, (ii) a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), (iii) any Preliminary Prospectus (as defined below), and (iv) the Prospectus (as defined below) contemplated by this Agreement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations in accordance with Section 4(i)(a)  hereof, no other document with respect to the offer and sale of the Public Units, Public Shares or Public Warrants has heretofore been filed with the Commission. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations is hereinafter called a “ Preliminary Prospectus ”). The Initial Registration Statement, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it became effective for purposes of Section

 

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11 of the Securities Act (the “ Effective Time ”), as such section applies to the respective Underwriters, is hereinafter collectively called the “ Registration Statement .” If the Company files a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement which becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus, in the form filed pursuant to and within the time limits described in Rule 424(b) under the Rules and Regulations, is hereinafter called the “ Prospectus .”

 

(b)                                  General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of each Closing Date, as the case may be, neither (i) the Pricing Prospectus (as defined below) and the information included on Schedule B hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (ii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriter’s Information (as defined in Section 17 ). As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:

 

Applicable Time ” means [ · ] [P.M.], New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representative.

 

Pricing Prospectus ” means the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Public Units, Public Shares and Public Warrants that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time.

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(c)                                   No Stop Orders; No Material Misstatements . No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been instituted or threatened by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriter’s Information.

 

(d)                                  Registration Statement and Prospectus Contents . As of the Effective Time, the Registration Statement complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; as of the Applicable Time, the Preliminary Prospectus complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Section 10(a) of the Securities Act) and the Rules and Regulations and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; as of the Applicable Time, the General Disclosure Package did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the Prospectus will comply, as of its date and at each Closing Date, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Section 10(a) of the Securities Act) and the Rules and Regulations and, as of the date the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, and at each Closing Date, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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provided , however , that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (d) shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriter’s Information.

 

(e)                                   No Free Writing Prospectus . The Company has not disseminated any writing materials which may be deemed a “free writing prospectus” under the Rules and Regulations.

 

(f)                                    Distribution of Offering Materials . The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act.

 

(g)                                   Emerging Growth Company . From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communications) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”). “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

 

(h)                                  Reserved .

 

(i)                                      Testing-the-Waters Communications . The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule C hereto.

 

(j)                                     Organization and Good Standing . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as corporation in good standing in the State of Delaware. The Company 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 its business requires such qualification and has all power and authority (corporate or other) necessary to own or hold its property and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to enter into the this Agreement and the Other Transaction Agreements, and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except where the failure to so qualify or have such power or authority would not (i) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company, or (ii) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Other Transaction Agreements or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Other Transaction Agreements, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (any such effect as described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). The Company has no subsidiaries. The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or other equity interests or long-term debt securities of any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity.

 

(k)                                  Offering Documents . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreements, the Founder Promissory Note, and the Administrative Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company, in accordance with its terms, except, in each case, as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability. Each of the Founder Shares Agreements and the Unit Purchase Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Sponsor to the extent a party thereto, and is a valid and binding

 

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agreement of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Sponsor to the extent a party thereto, enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Sponsor to the extent a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability. The Registration Rights Agreement and the Insider Letter has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Sponsor, and each director, director nominee and officer of the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(l)                                      The Offering Securities . The Units have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, in the Unit Purchase Agreement or in the Forward Purchase Agreements, as applicable, will be duly and validly issued, will be free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability. The certificates for the Public Units are in due and proper form. The shares of Common Stock included in the Units have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, in the Unit Purchase Agreements or in the Forward Purchase Agreements, as applicable, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights. The Warrants included in the Units, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment therefor as provided herein, in the Unit Purchase Agreements or the Forward Purchase Agreements, as applicable, will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders of such Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar contractual right granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such Common Stock (other than such execution (if applicable), countersignature (if applicable) and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.

 

(m)                              Capitalization . The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws, and conform to the description thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Founder Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. As of the date set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there were no authorized or outstanding shares of capital stock, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company other than those described above or accurately described in the General Disclosure Package. Since such date, the Company has not issued any securities, other than those described in the General Disclosure Package.

 

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(n)                                  No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Other Transaction Agreements, and the issue and sale of the Units and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or (iii) result in the violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency or body (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ Exchange ”)), domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or assets except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. A “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company.

 

(o)                                  No Consents Required . No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the Exchange), or approval of the stockholders of the Company, is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Units or in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Other Transaction Agreements, or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than (i) registration of the Public Units, Public Shares and Public Warrants under the Securities Act, which has been effected (or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed hereunder pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, will be effected in accordance herewith), (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Public Units are being offered by the Underwriters, (iii) under the applicable rules of FINRA, (iv) any listing applications and related consents or any notices required by the Exchange in the ordinary course of the Offering of the Public Units, (v) filings with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and (vi) any such other required approvals as have been obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

(p)                                  No Preemptive Rights . Except as described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) no person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to it any Units or shares of any other capital stock or other equity interests of the Company, (ii) no person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase any Units or shares of any other capital stock of or other equity interests in the Company and (iii) no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Public Units; no person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to register under the Securities Act any Units or shares of any other capital stock or of other equity interests in the Company or to include any such shares or interests in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby.

 

(q)                                  Independent Auditors . RSM US LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of Article 2-01 of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “ PCAOB ”).

 

(r)                                     Financial Statements . The financial statements, together with the related notes, included in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement fairly present the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. Such statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as may be set forth in the related notes included in the General Disclosure Package. The financial statements, together with the related notes, included in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus

 

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comply in all material respects with Regulation S-X. No other financial statements or supporting schedules or exhibits are required by Regulation S-X to be described or included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. Any summary and selected financial data included in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement fairly present the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and are derived from the financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and other financial information.

 

(s)                                    No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case excluding any amendments or supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there has not been, (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the business, properties, management, financial condition or results of operation of the Company, (ii) any transaction with is material to the Company, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company, which is material to the Company, (iv) any material loss or interference with the business of the Company from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any action, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory authority, (v) any change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company, or (vi) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock.

 

(t)                                     Legal Proceedings . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there is no legal or governmental proceeding pending to which the Company is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company is the subject that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and is not described therein, or which, singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to effect the Company, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no such proceedings are threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge after reasonable investigation and due diligence inquiry (“ Knowledge ”), contemplated by governmental or regulatory authorities or threatened by others.

 

(u)                                  No Violation or Default . The Company is not (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws, (ii) in default in any respect, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject or (iii) in violation in any respect of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court order, decree or judgment to which it or its property or assets may be subject except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(v)                                  Licenses or Permits . The Company possesses all licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by, and has made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate local, state, federal or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies that are necessary for the ownership or lease of its property or the conduct of its businesses as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “ Governmental Permits ”) except where any failures to possess or make the same would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is in compliance with all such Governmental Permits; all such Governmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the validity or failure to be in full force and effect would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received notification of any revocation, modification, suspension, termination or invalidation (or proceedings related thereto) of any such Governmental Permit and the Company has no reason to believe that any such Governmental Permit will not be renewed.

 

(w)                                Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering of the Public Units and Private Placement Units and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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(x)                                  No Stabilization . Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its officers, directors or affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.

 

(y)                                  Intellectual Property . The Company owns or possesses the valid right to use all (i) valid and enforceable trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses and trade secret rights (“ Intellectual Property Rights ”) and (ii) service marks, trade names, Internet domain names and other intellectual property (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Assets ”) necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted and described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company’s business as now conducted does not give rise to any infringement of, any misappropriation of, or other violation of, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person.

 

(z)                                   Real and Personal Property . The Company does not own any real property; the property described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being available for use by the Company is available for use thereby under a valid and enforceable agreement.

 

(aa)                           No Labor Dispute . There is (A) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relation board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it and (B) no labor disturbance by or dispute with, employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, that could reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company plans to terminate employment with the Company.

 

(bb)                           Compliance with ERISA . No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”)) or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the thirty (30)-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company which could, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each employee benefit plan of the Company is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code. The Company has not incurred and could not reasonably be expected to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any pension plan (as defined in ERISA).

 

(cc)                             Environmental Laws and Hazardous Materials . The Company is in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to its business (“ Environmental Laws ”). There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company (or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company has Knowledge.

 

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(dd)                           Taxes . The Company (i) has timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, and all such returns were true, complete and correct, (ii) has paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, for which it is liable, including, without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, and (iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding or assessed or, to its Knowledge, proposed against it, except those, in each of the cases described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ee)                             Insurance . The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its property. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew any existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received written notice from any insurer, agent of such insurer or the broker of the Company that any material capital improvements or any other material expenditures (other than premium payments) are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance.

 

(ff)                               Accounting Controls . The Company maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the “ Exchange Act Rules ”)) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by its principal executive and principal financial officers, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(gg)                             Disclosure Controls . The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Rules) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures. The Company has conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(hh)                           Minute Books . The minute books of the Company have been made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, and such books (i) contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company since the time of its incorporation through the date of the latest meeting and action, and (ii) accurately in all material respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

(ii)                                   No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and which is not so described.

 

(jj)                                 No Registration Rights . No person or entity has the right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or otherwise, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right in writing or who have been given timely and proper written notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, there

 

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are no persons with registration rights or similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Securities Act.

 

(kk)                           Margin Rules . The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Units as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve system or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

(ll)                                   No Broker’s Fees . The Company is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the Offering and sale of the Public Units or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

 

(mm)                   Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(nn)                           Listing . The Public Units, the Public Shares and the Public Warrants have been approved for listing subject to notice of issuance on the Exchange. A registration statement has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act.

 

(oo)                           Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), including Section 402 related to loans.

 

(pp)                           No Unlawful Payments . Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company, has (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (iv) made any other unlawful payment.

 

(qq)                           Statistical and Market Data . The statistical and market related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

(rr)                                 Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(ss)                               Compliance with OFAC .

 

(A)                               Neither the Company nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: (i)

 

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the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council (“ UNSC ”), the European Union (“ EU ”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

(B)                               The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(C)                               The Company has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

(tt)                                 No Associated Persons; FINRA Matters . Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(1)) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA, other than as described on Schedule D hereof.

 

(uu)                           No Integration . The Company has not made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Securities Act or the Rules or Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Units or any of their underlying securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

(vv)                           Questionnaires . To the Knowledge of the Company (after reasonable inquiry in the case of the Sponsor), all information contained in the questionnaires (the “ Questionnaires ”) completed by the Sponsor and the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees and provided to the Underwriters is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

(ww)                       No Acquisition Targets . Prior to the date hereof, the Company has not identified any acquisition target and has not, nor to its knowledge, has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential target for the Company’s initial Business Combination.

 

Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

3.                                       PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF OFFERED SECURITIES . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Units set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto. The Company is advised by the Representative that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Firm Units as soon after the effective date of the Registration Statement as in the Representative’s judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the Firm Units upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

 

The purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company for the Firm Units will be $9.80 per Unit (the “ Purchase Price ”).

 

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The Company will deliver the Firm Units to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or, at the election of the Representative, in the form of definitive certificates, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representative may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to the Trust Account and such other account(s) as may be specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The time and date of the delivery and closing shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on [ · ], [ · ], 2018, in accordance with Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act. The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred to as the “ Initial Closing Date ”. The Initial Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Firm Units may be varied by agreement between the Company and the Representative.

 

The public offering price of the Public Units is not in excess of the price recommended by Chardan, acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA.

 

The Company, in the event the Representative elects to have the Underwriters take delivery of definitive certificates instead of delivery from the Company of the certificates through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, shall make certificates for the Firm Units available to the Representative for examination on behalf of the Underwriters in New York, New York at least one (1) full business day prior to the Initial Closing Date.

 

In addition, the Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) to purchase, and upon the basis of the representations and warranties and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company, ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Units to be purchased by each of them, all or a portion of the Optional Units as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the Offering of the Firm Units, at the same purchase price per Firm Unit to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised by the Representative on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of this Agreement, by written notice to the Company, setting forth the number of Optional Units to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Units. The number of Optional Units to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the number which bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Optional Units being purchased as the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the total number of Firm Units (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Representative may determine to eliminate fractional shares).

 

Each date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Units (which may be the Initial Closing Date, but not earlier) is herein called the “ Option Closing Date ” and shall in no event be earlier than two (2) business days nor later than five (5) business days after written notice of exercise is given. The Option Closing Date and the Initial Closing Date are herein called the “ Closing Dates ,” or each a “ Closing Date .”

 

The Company will deliver the Optional Units to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or, at the election of the Representative, in the form of definitive certificates, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representative may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the business day immediately preceding the Option Closing Date against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to the Trust Account. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company, in the event the Representative elects to have the Underwriters take delivery of definitive certificates instead of delivery from the Company of the certificates through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, shall make the certificates for the Optional Units available to the Representative for examination on behalf of the Underwriters in New York, New York not later than 10:00 A.M., New York Time, at least one (1) full business day prior to the Option Closing Date. The Option Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Optional Units may be varied by agreement between the Company and the Representative.

 

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The several Underwriters propose to offer the Public Units for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4.                                       FURTHER AGREEMENTS

 

(i)  FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY .  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters and the QIU:

 

(a)                                  Required Filings; Amendments or Supplements; Notice to the Representative . To prepare the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if necessary, in a form approved by the Representative and the QIU and file such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission by 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date hereof, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Rules and Regulations; to prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representative and the QIU containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rules 430A, 430B or 430C of the Rules and Regulations and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the second (2nd) business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by the Securities Act; to notify the Representative and the QIU immediately of the Company’s intention to file or prepare any supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus and to make no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or to the Prospectus to which the Representative and/or QIU shall reasonably object by notice to the Company after a reasonable period to review; to advise the Representative and the QIU, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication has been filed and to furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rules 433(d) or 163(b)(2) of the Rules and Regulations, as the case may be; to advise the Representative, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, of the suspension of the qualification of the Public Units, Public Shares or Public Warrants for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or for additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order.

 

(b)                                  Emerging Growth Company . To promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) the completion of the distribution of the Public Units within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below).

 

If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

(c)                                   Reserved .

 

(d)                                  Ongoing Compliance . If at any time prior to the date when a prospectus relating to the Public Units is required to be delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements

 

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therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made when the Prospectus is delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations), not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, to promptly notify the Representative thereof and upon its request to prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and to use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as possible. The Company will furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request of such amendment or supplement. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations) relating to the Public Units, the Company upon the request of the Representative will prepare promptly an amended or supplemented Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as such Underwriter may request of such amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

 

(e)                                   Amendment to General Disclosure Package . If the General Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Public Units at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file and not superseded or modified, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with any law, to promptly prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package.

 

(f)                                    Reserved .

 

(g)                                   Delivery of Registration Statement . To the extent not publicly available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“ EDGAR ”), upon the request of the Representative, to furnish promptly to the Representative and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.

 

(h)                                  Delivery of Copies . Upon request of the Representative, to the extent not publicly available on EDGAR, to deliver promptly to the Representative in New York City such number of the following documents as the Representative shall reasonably request: (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission (in each case excluding exhibits), (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of this paragraph (i) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement), (iv) conformed copies of any amendment to the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits) and (v) any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (iv) and (v) of this paragraph (i) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day following the date of such amendment or supplement).

 

(i)                                      Earnings Statement . To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen (16) months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of the Rules and Regulations), an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); and to furnish to its security holders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company certified by independent public accountants) and as soon as possible after each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the first fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement), summary financial information of the Company for such quarter in reasonable detail.

 

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(j)                                     Blue Sky Compliance . To take promptly from time to time such actions as the Representative may reasonably request to qualify the Public Units and any of the underlying securities for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect, and to comply with such laws, for so long as required to permit the offer and sale of Public Units and any of the underlying securities in such jurisdictions; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to (i) qualify as foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

(k)                                  Reports . Upon request, during the period of five (5) years from the date hereof, to deliver to each of the Underwriters, (i) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to security holders, and (ii) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which the Public Units, Common Stock and Warrants are listed. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports on EDGAR, it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

 

(l)                                      Lock-Up . During the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and including the 180th day following the date of this Agreement, (the “ Lock-Up Period ”) to not, without the prior written consent of the Representative (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representative), directly or indirectly offer, sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Units, Common Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock (other than is contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Public Units) or publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing. The Company will cause the Founders and each of the Company’s officers, directors, advisors and security holders prior to the Offering (other than the Anchor Investors) to furnish to the Representative, prior to the Initial Closing Date, the Insider Letter, which contains, among other things, “lock-up” restrictions on disposition of securities of the Company and the Company shall not release any such party from such “lock-up” restrictions, or the Anchor Investors from any lock-up provision contained in the applicable Anchor Subscription Agreements, without the prior written consent of the Representative (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representative). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may: (a) issue and sell the Private Placement Units, (b) issue and sell the Optional Units on exercise of the option provided for in Section 3 hereof, (c) register with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the resale of the Private Placement Units, Founder Shares and the Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Units and the Private Placement Warrants, (d) register with the commission pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement, the resale of the Forward Purchase Securities, and (e) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination, including the Forward Purchase Securities; provided , further , that in no case shall the Company issue any Common Stock, Warrants or any options or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or any shares of preferred stock, in each case, that participate in any manner in the Trust Account or that vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.

 

(m)                              Release of Lock-Up . If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the lock-up restrictions set forth in the Insider Letter for a Founder or an executive officer, director or director nominee of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three (3) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

(n)                                  Delivery of SEC Correspondence . To supply the Underwriters with copies of all correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the Commission in connection with the registration of the Public Units, Public Shares and Public Warrants under the Securities Act or any of the Registration Statement, any

 

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Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein.

 

(o)                                  Press Releases . Prior to the Initial Closing Date, not to issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representative is notified), without the prior consent of the Representative, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such press release or communication is required by law.

 

(p)                                  Compliance with Regulation M . Until the Underwriters shall have notified the Company of the completion of the resale of the Public Units, not to, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act) not to, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase, for any account in which it or any of its affiliated purchasers has a beneficial interest, any Public Units, or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Public Units; and not to, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers not to, make bids or purchase for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in or of raising the price of the Public Units.

 

(q)                                  Registrar and Transfer Agent . To maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

 

(r)                                     Use of Proceeds . To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”; except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Public Units hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

(s)                                    Exchange Listing . To use its reasonable best efforts to list the Public Units, the Common Stock and the Public Warrants on the Exchange, and to maintain the listing of the Public Units, the Common Stock and the Public Warrants on the Exchange.

 

(t)                                     Performance of Covenants and Satisfaction of Conditions . To use its reasonable best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to each Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Firm Units and the Optional Units.

 

(u)                                  Private Placement Funds . At least one business day prior to the time of the Initial Closing Date, if the Sponsor, Cowen Investments shall have caused the purchase price for the Private Placement Units to be purchased on the Initial Closing Date to be wired to the Company, to direct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to deposit all or a portion of such funds into the Trust Account and to hold such funds in escrow therein such that upon payment for the Public Units pursuant to this Agreement, the amount of cash in the Trust Account (without giving effect to any income earned thereon) will equal $10.00 per Public Unit outstanding as of the Initial Closing Date. At least one business day prior to the time of any Option Closing Date, if the Sponsor, Cowen Investments shall have caused the purchase price for the Private Placement Units to be purchased on such Option Closing Date to be wired to the Company, to direct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to deposit such funds into the Trust Account and to hold such funds in escrow therein.

 

(v)                                  Other Prospectuses . At any time at or after the executing of this Agreement, not to, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Public Units by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Public Units, in each case other than the Prospectus.

 

(w)                                No Stabilization or Manipulation . Not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Units.

 

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(x)                                  Exchange Act Registration . For a period of time commencing at the Effective Time and ending at least five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination, or until such earlier time at which Liquidation (as defined below) occurs, to use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Public Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act, except, in the case of the Public Units, after the completion of a Business Combination; the Company will not deregister the Public Units, Common Stock or Warrants under the Exchange Act (except, in the case of the Public Units, after the completion of a Business Combination) without the prior written consent of the Representative; “ Liquidation ” means the distributions of the Trust Account to the stockholders holding the Public Units (the “ Public Shareholders ”) in connection with the redemption of Common Stock held by such Public Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.

 

(y)                                  Audited Balance Sheet . To retain, as of the date hereof, its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company (the “ Audited Balance Sheet ”) as of the time at which payment and delivery of the Firm Units are made (the “ Time of Purchase ”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering at the Time of Purchase; as soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, to promptly, but not later than four business days after the Time of Purchase, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet; additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option provided for in Section 2 hereof, to promptly, but not later than four business days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of Optional Units and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.

 

(z)                                   Review of Financial Statements . For a period commencing on the Effective Time and ending at least five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the Common Stock and Public Warrants cease to be publicly traded, to, at its expense, cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the mailing, if any, of quarterly financial information to stockholders.

 

(aa)                           Warrant Agent . For a period commencing at the Effective Time and ending at least five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the Common Stock and Public Warrants cease to be publicly traded, to retain a warrant agent.

 

(bb)                           Transactions with Insiders . Not to consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors unless it obtains an opinion from a qualified independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view; other than as set forth in this subsection, the Company shall not pay the Sponsor or its affiliates or any of the Company’s executive officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided , however , that such officers, directors and affiliates (i) may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying, investigating and consummating a Business Combination to the extent that such expenses do not exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the Trust Account; (ii) may be repaid for loans as described in the Registration Statement; and (iii) may be paid $10,000 per month for office space and administrative and support services pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement. The Company’s independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Sponsor, to the Company’s officers or directors, or to the Company’s or any of such other person’s respective affiliates.

 

(cc)                             FINRA Notification . For a period of ninety (90) days following the Effective Time, in the event any Person (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, or has provided or will provide any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services to the Company, to promptly provide to FINRA (via a FINRA submission), the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a notification prior to entering into the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Business Combination: (i) the identity of the person or entity

 

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providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services and copies of all agreements governing such services prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering; the Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company may file in connection with the Business Combination for purposes of offering redemption of shares held by its stockholders for soliciting stockholder approval; as applicable. The Company shall advise FINRA, the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters if the Company is aware that any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a member of FINRA participating in the distribution of the Company’s securities.

 

(dd)                           Proceeds to be Held in Trust . To cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of one hundred and eighty (180) days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; to otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. During the period prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination or the earlier Liquidation, the Company may instruct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to release from the Trust Account, solely from interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, the amounts necessary to pay taxes; otherwise, all funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable)) will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation; provided , however , that in the event of the Liquidation, interest income of up to $100,000 may be released to the Company if the proceeds of the Offering held by the Company outside of the Trust Account are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution.

 

(ee)                             Reservation of Shares . To reserve and keep available the maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities that are issuable upon settlement of the Forward Purchase Shares and exercise of the Warrants outstanding from time to time.

 

(ff)                               Rule 419 . To use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Securities Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

 

(gg)                             Controls . To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, to maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(hh)                           Sarbanes-Oxley . As soon as legally required to do so, to take all actions, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to take all actions necessary to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, and to comply with the Exchange rules.

 

(ii)                                   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation . To not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause it to be in breach or violation of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(jj)                                 Insider Letter Amendments . To not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of the Insider Letter and to not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, the Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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(kk)                           Trust Account Waivers . To seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than the Underwriters and its independent auditors), prospective target businesses, lenders or other third parties with which it does business enter into agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Public Shareholders. Such agreements shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II and Exhibit III .

 

(ll)                                   Future Financings . The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.

 

(mm)                   Business Combination . The Company may consummate the initial Business Combination and conduct redemptions of Common Stock and Warrants for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a stockholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission; such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each Public Shareholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the Public Shares held by such Public Shareholder for an amount in cash equal to (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination representing (x) the net proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units and (y) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by (B) the total number of shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Public Units in the Offering (the “ Public Shares ”) then outstanding; if, however, the Company elects not to file such tender offer documents, a stockholder vote is required by law in connection with the initial Business Combination, or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (the “ Business Combination Vote ”); with respect to the initial Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor, Cowen Investments and each of the Company’s directors, officers and director nominees party to the Insider Letter has agreed to vote all of their respective Founder Shares, shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Units and any other shares of Common Stock purchased during or after the Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination; if the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Shareholder the right to have its shares of Common Stock redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price (the “ Redemption Price ”) equal to (I) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination representing (1) the net proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units and (2) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by (II) the total number of Public Shares then outstanding; if the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares voted by the stockholders at a duly-held stockholder meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination; if, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem the Common Stock, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Shareholders who affirmatively requested such redemption; only Public Shareholders holding Common Stock who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection therewith; in the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by twenty-four (24) months from the Initial Closing Date, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less such net interest in an amount of up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the Public Shareholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the

 

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Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law; only Public Shareholders holding Common Stock included in the Public Units shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other shares of capital stock of the Company; the Company will not propose any amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within twenty four (24) months from the Initial Closing Date, as further described in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, unless the Company offers the right to redeem the Public Shares in connection with such amendment.

 

(nn)                           Presentation of Potential Target Business . The Company shall cause each of its officers and directors to agree to, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or company, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations such officers or directors might have.

 

(oo)                           Public Announcement of Business Combination . In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“ Business Combination Announcement ”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing or submission with the Commission announcing the consummation of the Business Combination that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representative with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with such Underwriter’s standard policies regarding confidential information.

 

(pp)                           Target Fair Market Value . The Company agrees that the operating business(es) or assets that it acquires in its initial Business Combination (the “ Target Business ”) must have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any taxes) at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business. The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the Target Business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire. The Company is not required to obtain such an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.

 

(qq)                           Founder Shares .  Upon the earlier to occur of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option, the Company shall cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of Founder Shares from the Founders and the Anchor Investors pursuant to the Founder Shares Agreements, in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Founder Shares determined by multiplying (a) 750,000 by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,000,000 minus the number of Public Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,000,000. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the Company shall not cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of the Founder Shares pursuant to this subsection.

 

5.                                       PAYMENT OF EXPENSES . The Company agrees to pay, or reimburse if paid by any Underwriter, or the QIU, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated: (a) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Public Units, Public Shares and Public Warrants and any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the costs incident to the registration of the Public Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (c) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General

 

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Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and the costs of printing, reproducing and distributing, the “Agreement Among Underwriters” between the Representative and the Underwriters, the Master Selected Dealers’ Agreement, the Underwriters’ Questionnaire, this Agreement and any closing documents by mail or other means of communications; (d) the fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters not to exceed $35,000) incurred in connection with securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Public Units and any filings made with FINRA; (e) any applicable listing or other fees; (f) the fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters) of qualifying the Public Units under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(j)  and of preparing, printing and distributing wrappers, Blue Sky Memoranda and Legal Investment Surveys; (g) the cost of preparing and printing stock certificates; (h) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock and the warrant agent of the Warrants and Trustee; and (i) all other costs and expenses incident to the offering of the Public Units or the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s independent accountants); provided that, except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 5 and in Sections 9 and 10 , the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel not contemplated herein, any transfer taxes on the resale of any Public Units by them and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Public Units made by the Underwriters.

 

6.                                       CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS’ OBLIGATIONS . The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and as of the Applicable Time and on each Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

 

(a)                                  Registration Compliance; No Stop Orders . The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative; the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, and the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by, and in compliance with, the Rules and Regulations and in accordance with Section 4(a)  of this Agreement, and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, shall have become effective immediately upon its filing with the Commission; and FINRA shall have raised no unresolved objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)                                  No Material Misstatements . None of the Underwriters shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to any Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

(c)                                   Corporate Proceedings . All corporate proceedings incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Units and the Warrants and shares of common stock included therein, the Founder Shares,, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(d)                                  Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company . Greenberg Traurig, LLP shall have furnished to the Representative such counsel’s written opinion and 10b-5 Statement, as counsel to the Company,

 

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addressed to the Underwriters and dated each Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(e)                                   Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters . The Representative shall have received from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions and 10b-5 Statement, dated each Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(f)                                    Comfort Letter . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from RSM US LLP a letter, addressed to the Underwriters, executed and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that they are an independent registered accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and PCAOB and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(g)                                   Bring Down Comfort . On the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and on each Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a letter (the “ bring-down letter ”) from RSM US LLP addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date confirming, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Representative concurrently with the execution of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 6 .

 

(h)                                  Officers’ Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated as of each Closing Date, of its Chairman of the Board or President and its Chief Financial Officer stating in their respective capacities as officers of the Company on behalf of the Company that (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including, for avoidance of doubt, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement), or any post-effective amendment thereto, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or, to their knowledge, threatened by the Commission, (ii) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect, (iii) to their knowledge, after reasonable investigation, as of such Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date, and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, any Material Adverse Effect in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to involve a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(i)                                      No Material Adverse Effect . Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package, (i) the Company shall not have sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, and (ii) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company, otherwise than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (i), is, in the judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Public Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.

 

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(j)                                     No Legal Impediment to Issuance . No action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental or regulatory agency or body which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Units; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Units or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.

 

(k)                                  Market Conditions . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market, the Exchange or the NYSE American or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices or maximum range for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or market or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, or the subject of an act of terrorism, or there shall have been an outbreak of or escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Public Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(l)                                      Exchange Listing . The Exchange shall have approved the Public Units, the Public Shares and the Public Warrants for listing therein, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

(m)                              Good Standing . The Representative shall have received on and as of each Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in Delaware and its good standing as a foreign entity in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(n)                                  Other Transaction Agreements . The Representative shall have received executed copies of the Other Transaction Agreements.

 

(o)                                  Secretary’s Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a Secretary’s Certificate of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and customary for the type of offering contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(p)                                  Additional Document . On or prior to each Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

(q)                                  Private Placement Units . At least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Founders and the Anchor Investors shall have caused all or a portion purchase price for the Private Placement Units to be deposited into the Trust Account such that upon payment for the Public Units pursuant to this Agreement, the amount of cash in the Trust Account (without giving effect to any income earned thereon) will equal $10.00 per Public Unit outstanding as of such Closing Date.

 

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

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7.                                       INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION .

 

(a)                                  Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless:

 

(i)                                      each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, managers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Underwriter Indemnified Parties ,” and each an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Public Units, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (“ Marketing Materials ”) or (B) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in, or omission or alleged omission from any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Marketing Materials made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriter’s Information.

 

(ii)                                   the QIU and its directors, officers, managers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ QIU Indemnified Parties ,” and each a “ QIU Indemnified Party ”) from and against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which that QIU Indemnified Party may become subject, arising out of, or based upon, the QIU’s acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the FINRA Rules) in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, and shall reimburse each QIU Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that QIU Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred.

 

Each indemnity agreement in this Section 8(a)  is not exclusive and is in addition to each other indemnity agreement in this Section 8(a)  and each other liability which the Company might have under this Agreement or otherwise, and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to any Underwriter Indemnified Party or QIU Indemnified Party.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification of Company by the Underwriters . Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Company Indemnified Parties ” and each a “ Company Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or

 

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supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriter’s Information, and shall reimburse the Company Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity, to the Company Indemnified Parties.

 

(c)                                   Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7 , notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided , however , that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure; and, provided , further , that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7 . If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided , however , that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a)  or the Representative in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(b) , (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) such indemnified party is a QIU Indemnified Party which has been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the QIU Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to those available to other indemnified parties, or (iv) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided , however , that except for liability for the fees and expenses of separate counsel for QIU Indemnified Parties designated by the QIU in the circumstances described in clause (iii) of this Section 7(c) , the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Company Indemnified Parties. Subject to this Section 7(c) , the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 7 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action,

 

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investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)  effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

(d)                                  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a)  or 7(b) , then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Public Units, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 7(d)  is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to it in clause (i) of this Section 7(d)  but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Public Units purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Public Units purchased under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of the Underwriters for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriter’s Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that Chardan has not received and will not receive any additional benefits hereunder for serving as the QIU in connection with the offering of the Public Units.

 

(e)                                   The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to Section 7(d)  above were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to Section 7(d)  above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to in Section 7(d)  above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7 , no Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Stock exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act or in connection with its participation as a QIU. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

8.                                       TERMINATION . The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative, in its absolute discretion by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 6(i) , 6(j)  or 6(k)  have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Firm Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

 

9.                                       REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS’ EXPENSES . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if (a) this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 8 or 10 , (b) the Company shall fail to tender the Firm Units for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason not permitted under this Agreement, (c) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Firm Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement or (d) the sale of the Firm Units is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of the refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to satisfy any condition or to comply with the provisions hereof, then in addition to the payment of amounts in accordance with Section 5 , the Company shall, pro rata based on the number of Firm Units it agreed to sell hereunder, reimburse the Underwriters for the fees and expenses of Underwriters’ counsel and for such other out-of-pocket expenses as shall have been reasonably incurred by them in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Firm Units, including, without limitation, travel and lodging expenses of the Underwriters, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative; provided that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of expenses to the extent incurred by such defaulting Underwriter provided further that the foregoing shall not limit any reimbursement obligation of the Company to any non-defaulting Underwriter under this Section 9 .

 

10.                                SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS . If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase Public Units hereunder on any Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of Units to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Units which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate number of Units with respect to which such default or defaults occur is more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of Units to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Company for the purchase of such Units by other persons are not made within forty-eight (48) hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate.

 

If the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part of the Public Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters on such Closing Date as provided in this Section 10 , (i) the Company shall have the right to postpone such Closing Date for a period of not more than five (5) full business days in order that the Company may effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers of Units to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company or the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except that the representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, agreements and other statements set forth in Section 2 , the

 

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obligations with respect to expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Sections 5 and 9 and the provisions of Section 7 and Sections 11 through 21 , inclusive, shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

11.                                ABSENCE OF FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature, the Representative has been retained solely to act as underwriter in connection with the sale of the Public Units and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representative has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Representative has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

 

(b)                                  the price of the Public Units set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representative, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   it has been advised that the Representative and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Representative has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

 

(d)                                  it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representative for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representative shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

12.                                SUCCESSORS; PERSONS ENTITLED TO BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the QIU Indemnified Parties, and the indemnities of the several Underwriters shall be for the benefit of the Company Indemnified Parties. It is understood that each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and the Underwriters do not owe the Company, or any other party, any fiduciary duty as a result of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Public Units from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

13.                                SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITIES, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, ETC . The respective indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by them respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any person controlling any of them and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Public Units. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, including without limitation any termination pursuant to Section 8 or Section 10 , the indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements set forth in Sections 2 , 5 , 7 and 9 and Sections 11 through 21 , inclusive, of this Agreement shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect at all times.

 

14.                                NOTICES . All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

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(a)                                  if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, facsimile transmission or email to Cowen and Company, LLC, Attention: Head of Equity Capital Markets, Fax: 646-562-1249 with a copy to the General Counsel, Fax: 646-562-1124; and

 

(b)                                  if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, facsimile transmission or email to VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543 Attention: Stephen Girsky, Chief Executive Officer, email sgirsky@vectoiq.com;

 

provided , however , that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be delivered or sent by mail, or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance notice to the Representative, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representative upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

 

15.                                DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “ affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (b) “ business day ” means any day on which the Exchange is open for trading and (c) “ subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

16.                                GOVERNING LAW, SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (the “ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York . Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company and each Underwriter consents to jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each Underwriter and the Company hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against any Underwriter or any indemnified party . EACH UNDERWRITER AND THE COMPANY (ON ITS BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND AFFILIATES) EACH WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. The Company and each Underwriter agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and each Underwriter, respectively, and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Company and each Underwriter, respectively, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

17.                                UNDERWRITERS’ INFORMATION . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters’ Information consists solely of the following information in the Prospectus: (i) the last paragraph on the front cover page concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters; and (ii) the statements set forth in the sixth and sixteenth through twenty first paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting,” only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of selling concessions and reallowance or to over-allotment and stabilization activities that may be undertaken by the Underwriters, and the fourth and twenty-second paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus.

 

18.                                AUTHORITY OF THE REPRESENTATIVE . In connection with this Agreement, the Representative will act for and on behalf of the several Underwriters, and any action taken under this Agreement by the Representative, will be binding on all the Underwriters.

 

19.                                PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

30



 

20.                                GENERAL . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. In this Agreement, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders and the singular and the plural include one another. The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and will not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the Company and the Representative.

 

21.                                COUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

31



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written,
on behalf of themselves and the other several Underwriters
named in Schedule A

 

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

CHARDAN CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

Name

 

Number of Firm Units to be Purchased

 

 

 

Cowen and Company, LLC

 

[ · ]

 

 

 

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

 

[ · ]

 

 

 

Total

 

20,000,000

 



 

SCHEDULE B

 

Pricing Information

 

Firm Units to be Sold: 20,000,000 shares

 

Offering Price: $10.00 per share

 

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions: 2%

 

Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company (after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before transaction expenses): $196,000,000.00

 



 

SCHEDULE C

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. Management Presentation, dated [ · ]

 



 

SCHEDULE D

 

FINRA Affiliates

 

None

 



 

Exhibit I

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

[Date]

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. announced today that Cowen and Company, LLC, the lead book-running manager in the Company’s recent public sale of 20,000,000 units, is [waiving][releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [            ] [shares of the Company’s common stock] [warrants of the Company][units of the Company]  held by [certain officers or directors][an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver][release] will take effect on            , 20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 



 

Exhibit II

 

Form of Target Business Letter

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated [ · ], 2018(the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $200,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or upon an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as described in the Prospectus, (ii) to the Company in limited amounts for its income and other tax obligations, (iii) to the Public Stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iv) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “ Claim ”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

Print Name of Target Business

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature of Target Business

 



 

Exhibit III

 

Form of Vendor Letter

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated [ · ], 2018 (the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $200,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or upon an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as described in the Prospectus, (ii) to the Company in limited amounts for its income and other tax obligations, (iii) to the Public Stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iv) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “ Claim ”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

Print Name of Vendor

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature of Vendor

 




Exhibit 1.2

 

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
599 Lexington Ave., 27th Floor
New York, New York 10022

 

[ · ], 2018

 

VectoIQ Acquisition, Inc.
1354 Flagler Drive

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

Attn: Stephen Girsky, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This is to confirm our agreement whereby VectoIQ Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Company ”), has requested Cowen and Company, LLC and [ · ] (together, the “ Advisors ” and each an “ Advisor ”) to assist it in connection with the Company engaging in a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination (in each case, a “ Business Combination ”) with one or more businesses (each a “ Target ”) as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[•]) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ Registration Statement ”) in connection with its initial public offering (“ IPO ”).

 

1.                                       Services and Fees .

 

(a)                                  The Advisors will, from time to time, upon the Company’s request and in consultation with the Company:

 

(i)                                      Assist the Company in arranging meetings with its stockholders to discuss one or more potential Business Combinations, including discussions of the applicable potential Target’s attributes;

 

(ii)                                   Introduce the Company to potential investors to purchase the Company’s securities in connection with the Business Combination;

 

(iii)                                Provide financial advisory services to assist the Company in the Company’s efforts to obtain any stockholder approval for one or more Business Combinations, until such time as the Company has completed an initial Business Combination; and

 

(iv)                               Assist the Company with any press releases and/or filings related to the Business Combination or related Target (the activities described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(iv), the “ Services ”).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Services to be provided for hereunder will not include any solicitation of potential investors in connection with the IPO or Business Combination.

 

(b)                                  As compensation for the Services, the Company will pay the Advisors a cash fee equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of its equity securities pursuant to the Registration Statement during the IPO, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option described therein (the “ Fee ”). The Fee is due and payable to the Advisors by wire transfer at the closing of the initial Business Combination (“ Closing ”), and shall be allocated as agreed to

 



 

among the Advisors .  If a proposed Business Combination is not consummated for any reason during the 24-month period beginning on the consummation of the IPO (as such period may be extended), no Fee shall be due or payable to the Advisors hereunder.  The Fee shall be exclusive of any other fees which may become payable to the Advisors pursuant to any other agreement between the Advisors and the Company or the Target.

 

2.                                       Expenses .

 

At the Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Advisors for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Advisors (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with the performance of the Services hereunder; provided , however , all expenses in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

3.                                       Company Cooperation; Information .

 

(a)                                  The Company will provide full cooperation to each Advisor as may be necessary for the efficient performance by such Advisor of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, providing to such Advisor and its counsel, on a timely basis, all documents and information regarding the Company and Target that such Advisor may reasonably request or that are otherwise relevant to the Advisor’s performance of its obligations hereunder (collectively, the “ Information ”); making the Company’s management, auditors, consultants and advisors available to such Advisor; and, using commercially reasonable efforts to provide such Advisor with reasonable access to the management, auditors, suppliers, customers, consultants and advisors of Target. The Company will promptly notify the Advisors of any change in facts or circumstances or new developments affecting the Company or Target or that might reasonably be considered material to any Advisor’s engagement hereunder.

 

(b)                                  Each Advisor shall obtain the Company’s written approval (which may be provided via email) prior to sharing with third parties any Information, presentations and/or materials about the Company, its stockholders and/or affiliates, the initial Business Combination and any Targets, to the extent that any such information is not already provided to the public in the Registration Statement.

 

4.                                       Representations; Warranties and Covenants .

 

(a)                                  The Company represents, warrants and covenants to each Advisor that all Information it makes available to any Advisor by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date thereof and as of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

(b)                                  Each Advisor represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that it (i) is not prohibited from entering into this Agreement by any other contract, agreement, law or order; (ii) will use personnel of required skill, experience and qualifications to perform the Services; and (iii) will provide written updates as to the performance of the Services as requested by the Company.

 

5.                                       Indemnity .

 

The Company shall indemnify the Advisors and their affiliates and directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents in accordance with the indemnification provisions set forth in Annex I hereto, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing and Annex 1, each Advisor agrees, if there is no Closing, (i) that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Company’s trust account (“ Trust Account ”) established in connection with the IPO with respect to the Fee (each, a “ Claim ”); (ii) to waive any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any Services provided to the Company hereunder; and (iii) to not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the Fee.

 

2



 

6.                                       Use of Name and Reports .

 

Without each Advisor’s prior written consent, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (nor any director, officer, manager, partner, member, employee or agent thereof) shall quote or refer to (i) any Advisor’s name or (ii) any advice rendered by any Advisor to the Company or any communication from any Advisor in connection with performance of the Services hereunder, except as required by applicable federal or state law, regulation or securities exchange rule.

 

7.                                       Status as Independent Contractor .

 

Each Advisor shall perform the Services as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the Company or affiliate thereof.  It is expressly understood and agreed to by the parties that no Advisor shall have authority to act for, represent or bind the Company or any affiliate thereof in any manner, except as may be expressly agreed to by the Company in writing.  In rendering such services, the Advisors will be acting solely pursuant to a contractual relationship on an arm’s-length basis.  This Agreement is not intended to create a fiduciary relationship between the parties and neither any Advisor nor any of such Advisor’s officers, directors or personnel will owe any fiduciary duty to the Company or any other person in connection with any of the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

8.                                       Potential Conflicts .

 

The Company acknowledges that the Advisors are full-service securities firms engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities and providing investment banking and advisory services from which conflicting interests may arise.  In the ordinary course of business, each Advisor and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for its own account or the accounts of customers, in debt or equity securities of the Company, its affiliates or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated hereby.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or restrict any Advisor or any of its affiliates in conducting such business.

 

9.                                       Entire Agreement .

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect thereto.  This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally or in any manner other than by an agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

10.                                Notices .

 

Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when mailed by certified mail or private courier service, return receipt requested, addressed to each party at its respective addresses set forth above, or such other address as may be given by a party in a notice given pursuant to this Section 10.

 

11.                                Successors and Assigns .

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the written consent of the other parties hereto.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, except where prohibited, to their successors and assigns.

 

12.                                Non-Exclusivity .

 

Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the engagement by the Company of other consultants providing the same or similar services or the payment by the Company of fees to such parties.  The Company’s engagement of any other consultant(s) shall not affect  any Advisor’s right to receive the Fee and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

3



 

13.                                Applicable Law; Venue .

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

IN THE EVENT OF ANY DISPUTE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THEN AND IN SUCH EVENT, EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE DISPUTE SHALL BE BROUGHT AND ENFORCED IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK UNDER THE ACCELERATED ADJUDICATION PROCEDURES OF THE COMMERCIAL DIVISION.  EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO SUCH JURISDICTION, WHICH JURISDICTION SHALL BE EXCLUSIVE.  EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND THAT SUCH COURTS REPRESENT AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.  ANY SUCH PROCESS OR SUMMONS TO BE SERVED UPON A PARTY MAY BE SERVED BY TRANSMITTING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, ADDRESSED TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AGREEMENT.  SUCH MAILING SHALL BE DEEMED PERSONAL SERVICE AND SHALL BE LEGAL AND BINDING UPON THE PARTY BEING SERVED IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR CLAIM.  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE PREVAILING PARTY(IES) IN ANY SUCH ACTION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY(IES) ALL OF ITS REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND EXPENSES RELATING TO SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND/OR INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREPARATION THEREFOR.

 

14.                                Counterparts .

 

This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

[ Signature Page follows ]

 

4



 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Advisors and the Company with respect to the foregoing, please so indicate your agreement by signing in the place provided below, at which time this letter shall become a binding contract.

 

 

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[ · ]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Business Combination Marketing Agreement ]

 


 

ANNEX I

 

Indemnification

 

In connection with the Company’s engagement of Cowen and Company, LLC and [ · ] (together, the “ Advisors ” and each an “ Advisor ”) pursuant to that certain letter agreement (“ Agreement ”) of which this Annex forms a part, VectoIQ Acquisition, Inc.  (the “ Company ”) hereby agrees, subject to the second paragraph of Section 5 of the Agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless each Advisor and its affiliates and its respective directors, officers, shareholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “ Indemnified Persons ”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of stockholders), damages, liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred (collectively a “ Claim ”), that (A) are related to or arise out of (i) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (including any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company, or (ii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisors, or (B) otherwise relate to or arise out of any Advisor’s activities on the Company’s behalf under the Advisors’ engagement, and the Company shall reimburse any Indemnified Person for all expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether or not in connection with pending or threatened litigation in which any Indemnified Person is a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any Claim that is finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any person seeking indemnification for such Claim.  The Company further agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company for or in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisors except for any Claim incurred by the Company as a result of such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

The Company further agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of each Advisor, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional, irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim.

 

Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the fees and expenses of such counsel.  In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect against any Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be fully indemnified by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and all amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof.

 

In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense.

 



 

The Company agrees that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not any Advisor is an Indemnified Person), the Company and the Advisors shall contribute to the Claim for which such indemnity is held unavailable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and such Advisors on the other, in connection with such Advisors’ engagement referred to above, subject to the limitation that in no event shall the amount of any such Advisor’s contribution to such Claim exceed the amount of Fees actually received by such Advisor from the Company pursuant to such engagement. The Company hereby agrees that the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and each Advisor on the other, with respect to such Advisor’s engagement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or proposed to be paid or received by the Company or its stockholders as the case may be, pursuant to the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Advisors are engaged to render services bears to (b) the Fee paid or proposed to be paid to such Advisor in connection with such engagement.

 

The Company’s indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations under this Agreement (a) shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law or at equity and (b) shall be effective whether or not the Company is at fault in any way.

 




Exhibit 3.2

 

 

FORM OF

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

, 2018

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.                                       The name of the Corporation is “ VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. ”.  The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 23, 2018 (the “ Original Certificate ”).

 

2.                                       This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Amended and Restated Certificate ”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “ DGCL ”).

 

3.                                       This Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

4.                                       The text of the Original Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

The name of the corporation is VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

ARTICLE II

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.  In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”).

 



 

ARTICLE III

 

REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 4.1                                     Authorized Capital Stock .  The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 101,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).

 

Section 4.2                                     Preferred Stock .  Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders of Preferred Stock is required pursuant to another provision of this Certificate, including any Preferred Stock Designation

 

Section 4.3                                     Common Stock.

 

(a)                                  Voting.

 

(i)                                      Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.

 

(ii)                                   Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.

 

(iii)                                Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

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(b)                                  Dividends.   Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.

 

(c)                                   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation.   Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

 

Section 4.4                                     Rights and Options .  The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board.  The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.

 

ARTICLE V

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.1                                     Board Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board.  In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By Laws of the Corporation (“ By Laws ”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate, and any By Laws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.

 

Section 5.2                                     Number, Election and Term .

 

(a)                                  The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into two classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I and Class II.  The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I or Class II.  The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate.  Beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a two-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal.  Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

 

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The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.

 

(c)                                   Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

(d)                                  Unless and except to the extent that the By Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Section 5.3                                     Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies .  Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

Section 5.4                                     Removal .  Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 5.5                                     Preferred Stock - Directors .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V , and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

BY LAWS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent. The By Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws; and provided further, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

 

Section 7.1                                     Special Meetings .  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation

 

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may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied.  Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.

 

Section 7.2                                     Advance Notice .  Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the By Laws.

 

Section 7.3                                     Action by Written Consent .  Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “ Offering ”), any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1                                     Limitation of Director Liability .  A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director.  Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

Section 8.2                                     Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

 

(a)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “ indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding.  The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise.  The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a) , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

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(b)                                  The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the By Laws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

(c)                                   Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2 , shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

(d)                                  This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE

 

Section 9.1                                     General .

 

(a)                                  The provisions of this Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX shall be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

 

(b)                                  Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2018, as amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “ Trust Account ”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement.  Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering and (iii) the redemption of Offering Shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate relating to pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7 ) and related stockholders’ rights, including the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to Section 9.2(d) .  Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “ Offering Shares ”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are affiliates of the Corporation, VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”) or officers or directors of the Corporation) are referred to herein as “ Public Stockholders.

 

Section 9.2                                     Redemption Rights .

 

(a)                                  Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Sections 9.2(b)  and 9.2(c)  (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “ Redemption Rights ”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b)  hereof (the “ Redemption Price ”); provided, however, that the Corporation shall not redeem

 

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Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) (or any successor rule)) of at least $5,000,001 or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement upon consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “ Redemption Limitation ”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.

 

(b)                                  If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a)  hereof pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “ Tender Offer Rules ”) which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “ Proxy Solicitation Rules ”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a)  hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b) .  In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:  (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest which shall be net of taxes payable, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares.  If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest which shall be net of taxes payable, by (b) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

(c)                                   If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “ group ” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the prior consent of the Corporation.

 

(d)                                  In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

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(e)                                   If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate such proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

(f)                                    If the Corporation conducts a tender offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b) , the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

Section 9.3                                     Distributions from the Trust Account .

 

(a)                                  A Public Stockholder shall be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 9.2(a) , 9.2(b) , 9.2(d)  or 9.7 hereof.  In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.

 

(b)                                  Each Public Stockholder that does not exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.

 

(c)                                   The exercise by a Public Stockholder of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to such proposed initial Business Combination.  Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.

 

Section 9.4                                     Share Issuances .  Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this Article IX .

 

Section 9.5                                     Transactions with Affiliates .  In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the Sponsor, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.

 

Section 9.6                                     No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies .  The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

 

Section 9.7                                     Additional Redemption Rights .  If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a) , any amendment is made to this Article IX , the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest which shall be net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. The Corporation’s ability to provide such opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.

 

Section 9.8                                     Minimum Value of Target .  The initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the Business Combination.

 

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ARTICLE X

 

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

The Corporation renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Excluded Opportunity pursuant to Section 122(17) of the DGCL.  An “ Excluded Opportunity ” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of (i) any director of the Corporation who is not an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “ Covered Persons ”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Corporation, such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue, and to the extent the director is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal or contractual obligation. Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer or other agent of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII , all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XI ; provided , however , that Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS

 

Section 12.1                              Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

 

Section 12.2                              Consent to Jurisdiction . If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “ Foreign Action ”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 immediately above (an “ FSC Enforcement Action ”) and

 

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(ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

APPLICATION OF DGCL SECTION 203

 

Section 14.1                              Section 203 of the DGCL . The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

Section 14.2                              Limitation on Business Combinations . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a)                                  prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(b)                                  upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

(c)                                   at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Section 14.3.                             Certain Definitions .  Solely for purposes of this Article XIV , references to:

 

(a)                                  affiliate ” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(b)                                  associate ,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any

 

10



 

trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(c)                                business combination ,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(i)                                      any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.2 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(ii)                                   any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation

 

(iii)                                any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all stockholders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all stockholders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation;  provided however , that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); or

 

(iv)                               any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder.

 

(d)                                  control ,” including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XIV , as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(e)                                   Exempted Person ” means Cowen Investments, LLC, the Sponsor and their respective affiliates, any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock and any “group” of which any such person is a part under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act.

 

(f)                                     “ interested stockholder ” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the

 

11



 

voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) any Exempted Person, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that with respect to clause (b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

(g)                                owner ,” including the terms “ own ” and “ owned ,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(i)                                      beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(ii)                                   has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;  provided however , that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(iii)                                has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock

 

(h)                                  person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(i)                                       “ stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(j)                                     voting stock ” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

12



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 




Exhibit 4.1

 

NUMBER UNITS
U-

 

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

CUSIP 92243N 202

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK AND THREE-FOURTHS OF ONE

REDEEMABLE WARRANT TO PURCHASE ONE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT [ · ] is the owner of [ · ] Units.

 

Each Unit (“ Unit ”) consists of one (1) share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and three-fourths (3/4) of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “ Warrant ”).  Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share (subject to adjustment) of Common Stock for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment).  Only whole Warrants are exercisable.  Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (each a “ Business Combination ”), and (ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “ Expiration Date ”).  The Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to                  , 2018, unless Cowen and Company, LLC elects to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin.  The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of                  , 2018, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof.  Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at One State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.

 

This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

Witness the facsimile signature of its duly authorized officers.

 

 

 

 

 Chief Executive Officer

 

Chief Financial Officer

 



 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

 

 

as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

 

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

 

 

 

(Minor)

TEN ENT

 

 

as tenants by the entireties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JT TEN

 

 

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

 

 

 

under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received,                                           hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

Units represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated                

 

 

 

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

 

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.

 

 

 

2



 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated                  , 2018, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of common stock sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination by                  , 2020, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of common stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to any provision of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to stockholders’ rights or the Company’s pre-initial business combination activity, including the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its shares of common stock sold in its initial public offering if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the required time period, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of common stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination.  In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

3




Exhibit 4.2

 

NUMBER

 

NUMBER

 

 

C-

 

 

SHARES

 

 

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

 

CUSIP 92243N 103

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
COMMON STOCK

 

This Certifies that

 

is the owner of

 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF $0.0001 EACH OF THE COMMON STOCK OF

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
(THE “COMPANY”)

 

transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.

 

The Company will be forced to redeem all of its shares of common stock if it is unable to complete a business combination by                , 2020, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated                  , 2018.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

 

Witness the seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

[Corporate Seal]

Delaware

Chief Financial Officer

 

1



 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.  This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors providing for the issue of securities (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.  The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

 

 

as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT 

MIN ACT

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

 

(Minor)

TEN ENT

 

 

as tenants by the entireties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JT TEN

 

 

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

 

 

under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received,                                      hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

 

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S))

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))

 

Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints

 

Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:

 

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:
By

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated                , 2018, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with its initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial

 

2



 

business combination by                , 2020, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of common stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to any provision of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to stockholders’ rights or the Company’s pre-initial business combination activity, including the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its shares of common stock sold in its initial public offering if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the required time period, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of common stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination.  In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

3




Exhibit 4.3

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

WARRANTS

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

 

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

 

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP 92243N 111

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that                 , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of            warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “ Warrants ” and each, a “ Warrant ”) to purchase shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”), of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).  Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “ Exercise Price ”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “ cashless exercise ” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock.  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant.  If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.  The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share.  The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.  The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 



 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

2



 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 



 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive            shares of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of                 , 2018 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “ holders ” or “ holder ” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants.  A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement.  The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent.  In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.  If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

 

4



 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive                  shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) in the amount of $           in accordance with the terms hereof.  The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                  and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to                  whose address is                 .  If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                   and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                 .

 

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b)  and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c)  of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c)  of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following:  The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock.  If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                   and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                 .

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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Date:                  , 20

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Address)

 

 

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 




Exhibit 4.4

 

FORM OF WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

between

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

and

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of        , 2018, is by and between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”).

 

WHEREAS, (i) on April 19, 2018, the Company entered into those certain Subscription Agreements (collectively, the “ Subscription Agreements ”) with HC NCBR FUND, Multi-Strategy Master Fund Limited and BlackRock Credit Alpha Master Fund L.P. (collectively, the “ Anchor Investors ”) and (ii) on        , 2018, the Company entered into those certain Unit Purchase Agreements with VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sponsor ”), and Cowen Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cowen Investments ” and, together with the Sponsor, the “ Founders ”), pursuant to which agreements the Anchor Investors, the Sponsor and Cowen Investments agreed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or up to 660,000 private units if the underwriters’ Over-allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised in full) and simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (as defined below) (and any closing of the underwriters’ Over-allotment Option, if applicable) bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “ Private Placement Units ”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit.  Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of the Company’s Common Stock (as defined below) and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant (the “ Private Placement Warrants ”). Each whole Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described the Company’s Registration Statement (as defined below) and Prospectus (as defined below) for the Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 18, 2018, the Company entered into that certain Forward Purchase Agreement (the “ Forward Purchase Agreement ”) with PSAM WorldArb Master Fund Ltd. (the “ Forward Purchase Investor ”), pursuant to which the Forward Purchase Investor may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Forward Purchase Agreement, be issued up to 1,875,000 redeemable warrants (the “ Forward Purchase Warrants ”) in a private placement transaction to occur at the time of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below). Each whole Forward Purchase Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described the Company’s Registration Statement and Prospectus for the Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 150,000 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one share of Common Stock and three-fourths of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “ Units ”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 17,250,000 warrants (including up to 2,250,000 warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option) to public investors in the Offering (the “ Public Warrants ” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants, the “ Warrants ”).  Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and

 



 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-224351 (the “ Registration Statement ”) and prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the shares of Common Stock included in the Units; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Appointment of Warrant Agent .  The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.                                       Warrants .

 

2.1                                Form of Warrant .  Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only.

 

2.2                                Effect of Countersignature .  If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

 

2.3                                Registration .

 

2.3.1                      Warrant Register .  The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “ Warrant Register ”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.  Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.  Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with The Depository Trust Company (the “ Depositary ”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “ Participant ”).

 

If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement.  In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A .

 

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company.  In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in

 

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the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

2.3.2                      Registered Holder .  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “ Registered Holder ”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on any physical certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

2.4                                Detachability of Warrants .  The shares of Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “ Business Day ”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “ Detachment Date ”) with the consent of Cowen and Company, LLC, as representative of the several underwriters of the Offering, but in no event shall the Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the “ Over-allotment Option ”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5                                No Fractional Warrants Other Than as Part of Units .  The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of Units and Private Placement Units, each of which is comprised of one share of Common Stock and three-fourths of one Warrant.  If, upon the detachment of Warrants from Units or Private Placement Units, as applicable, or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.  Accordingly, and for the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Warrants must purchase at least two Units or Private Placement Units, as applicable, in order to receive and/or trade a whole Warrant.

 

2.6                                Private Placement Warrants; Forward Purchase Warrants .

 

2.6.1                      The Private Placement Warrants (including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or any of their respective Permitted Transferees (as defined below) the Private Placement Warrants: (i) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c)  hereof, (ii) shall be subject to the Lock-up (as defined below), (iii) with respect to Private Warrants held by Cowen Investments, will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i) and (iv) shall not be redeemable by the Company; provided , however , that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or any of their respective Permitted Transferees and issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:

 

(a)                                  to any persons (including their affiliates and members) participating in the private placement of the Private Placement Units;

 

(b)                                  to the Company’s officers, directors or employees;

 

(c)                                   in the case of an entity, as a distribution to its partners, stockholders or members upon liquidation;

 

(d)                                  in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family, or for estate planning purposes;

 

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(e)                                   in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;

 

(f)                                    in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

 

(g)                                   by pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities;

 

(h)                                  by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased;

 

(i)                                      to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination;

 

(j)                                     in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination;

 

(k)                                  in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; or

 

(l)                                      in the case of any Anchor Investor or any of its Permitted Transferees, under the additional circumstances described in Section 5(a) of the Subscription Agreements;

 

provided , however , that, in the case of clauses (a) through (h) and, in the case of any Anchor Investor or any of its Permitted Transferees, those applicable additional circumstances described in Section 5(a) of the Subscription Agreements, these transferees (the “ Permitted Transferees ”) must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Lock-up ” means, with respect to all of the Private Placement Units, and the underlying Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock underlying them (collectively, the “ Private Placement Securities ”), that such Private Placement Securities may not be transferred, assigned or sold until the earlier to occur of: (x) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below) and (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after its initial Business Combination that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) if the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Private Placement Securities will be released from the Lock-up, subject to the following clause (B), if applicable; (B) with respect to the Private Placement Securities held by the Company’s executive officers and directors, and the Founders, and their Permitted Transferees, notwithstanding any release from the Lock-up described in clause (A), the Private Placement Securities may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement except to any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the Offering and the bona fide officers or partners of the applicable Founder and any such participating underwriter or selected dealer, nor may they be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the Private Placement Securities by any person during such 180-day period; and (C) in the case of the Anchor Investors and their Permitted Transferees, the Private Placement Securities held by them shall be released from the Lock-up under the additional circumstance described in Section 5(a) of the Subscription Agreements.

 

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2.6.2                      The Forward Purchase Warrants shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants.

 

3.                                       Terms and Exercise of Warrants .

 

3.1                                Warrant Price .  Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1 .  The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised.  The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.

 

3.2                                Duration of Warrants .  A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “ Exercise Period ”) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”), and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, provided, however, that the Private Placement Warrants issued to Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i); or (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants then held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or any of their Permitted Transferees, the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “ Expiration Date ”); provided , however , that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below with respect to an effective registration statement.  Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant then held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or any of their Permitted Transferees) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each outstanding Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or any of their Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date.  The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided , that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

 

3.3                                Exercise of Warrants .

 

3.3.1                      Payment .  Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full the Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:

 

(a)                                  in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the Warrant Agent;

 

(b)                                  in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “ Board ”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such

 

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Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b) ) over the exercise price of the Warrants by (y) the Fair Market Value.  Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b)  and Section 6.3 , the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof;

 

(c)                                   with respect to any Private Placement Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant is held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or their Permitted Transferees, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c) ) over the exercise price of the Warrants by (y) the Fair Market Value.  Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c) , the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Private Placement Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

 

(d)                                  as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.

 

3.3.2                      Issuance of Shares of Common Stock on Exercise .  As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a) ), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 .  No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants.  In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the shares of Common Stock underlying such Unit.  In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrant.  The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4 .  If, by reason of any exercise of warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

3.3.3                      Valid Issuance .  All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3.3.4                      Date of Issuance .  Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

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3.3.5                      Maximum Percentage .  A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election.  If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with such person for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which such person is or may be deemed to be a part, would beneficially own (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) (or to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder would result in a higher ownership percentage, such higher percentage would be) in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates or any such other person or group shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.  For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”), setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.  By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

4.                                       Adjustments .

 

4.1                                Stock Dividends .

 

4.1.1                      Split-Ups .  If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock.  A rights offering to holders of the Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the shares of Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value.  For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1 , (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average per share price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on

 

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the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

 

4.1.2                      Extraordinary Dividends .  If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Common Stock on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Common Stock in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the Company’s pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders’ rights, including  the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares of Common Stock if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the required time period, or, (e) in connection with the redemption of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “ Extraordinary Dividend ”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend.  For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2 , “ Ordinary Cash Dividends ” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).

 

4.2                                Aggregation of Shares .  If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

4.3                                Adjustments in Exercise Price .  Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

4.4                                Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc .  In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or conversion of the Company as another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “ Alternative Issuance ” ); provided , however , that (i) if the holders of the Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the

 

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kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4 ; provided , further , that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below).  The “ Black-Scholes Warrant Value ” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“ Bloomberg ”).  For purposes of calculating such amount, (1)  Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant.  “ Per Share Consideration ” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event.  If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by subsection 4.1.1 , then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2 , 4.3 and this Section 4.4 .  The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.  In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

4.5                                Notices of Changes in Warrant .  Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.  Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1 , 4.2 , 4.3 or 4.4 , the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event.  Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

 

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4.6                                No Fractional Shares .  Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants.  If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4 , the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

4.7                                Form of Warrant .  The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4 , and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided , however , that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

4.8                                Other Events .  In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 , then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Warrants be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.8 as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a Business Combination.  The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.

 

5.                                       Transfer and Exchange of Warrants .

 

5.1                                Registration of Transfer .  The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of certificated warrants, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer.  Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent.  In the case of certificated warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

5.2                                Procedure for Surrender of Warrants .  Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided , however , that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

5.3                                Fractional Warrants .  The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units or Private Placement Units.

 

5.4                                Service Charges .  No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

 

5.5                                Warrant Execution and Countersignature .  The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5 , and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

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5.6                                Transfer of Warrants .  Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit.  Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit.

 

6.                                       Redemption .

 

6.1                                Redemption of Warrants for Cash .  Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant (the “ Redemption Price ”), provided that the last sales price of the Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 .

 

6.2                                Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption .  In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6.1 , the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”).  Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “ 30-day Redemption Period ”) to the Registered Holders of the Public Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books.  Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.

 

6.3                                Exercise After Notice of Redemption .  The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b)  of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date.  In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 , the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b)  hereof) in such case.  On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.

 

6.4                                Exclusion of Private Placement Warrants .  The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in this Section 6 shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue to be held by the Founders, the Anchor Investors or their Permitted Transferees.  However , once such Private Placement Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees under Section 2.6 ), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 , provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.3 .  Private Placement Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement.

 

7.                                       Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants .

 

7.1                                No Rights as Stockholder .  A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a stockholder in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

7.2                                Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants .  If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in

 

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their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.  Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

7.3                                Reservation of Common Stock .  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.4                                Registration of Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option .

 

7.4.1                      Registration of the Common Stock .  The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.  The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  If any such registration statement (or any registration statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement) has not been declared effective by the 90th Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the applicable Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 91st Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the applicable Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) or another exemption) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the exercise price of the Warrants by (y) the Fair Market Value.  Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1 , “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary.  The date that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent.  In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend.  Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2 , for the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1 .

 

7.4.2                      Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option .  If the Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule), the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary.  If the Company does not elect at the time of exercise to require a holder of Public Warrants who exercises Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis,” it agrees to use its best efforts to register or qualify for sale the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the Public Warrants were initially offered by the Company of the exercising Public Warrant holder to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

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8.                                       Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters .

 

8.1                                Payment of Taxes .  The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.

 

8.2                                Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent .

 

8.2.1                      Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent .  The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company.  If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost.  Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.  After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

8.2.2                      Notice of Successor Warrant Agent .  In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

8.2.3                      Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent .  Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

8.3                                Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent .

 

8.3.1                      Remuneration .  The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

8.3.2                      Further Assurances .  The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4                                Liability of Warrant Agent .

 

8.4.1                      Reliance on Company Statement .  Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or

 

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established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.  The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4.2                      Indemnity .  The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.  The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

8.4.3                      Exclusions .  The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof).  The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant.  The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

8.5                                Acceptance of Agency .  The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

8.6                                Waiver .  The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“ Claim ”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.  The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

 

9.                                       Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

9.1                                Successors .  All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

9.2                                Notices .  Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Attention: Stephen Girsky
Chief Executive Officer

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such

 

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notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attention: Compliance Department

 

9.3                                Applicable Law .  The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York.  The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive.  The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

9.4                                Persons Having Rights under this Agreement .  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof.  All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

9.5                                Examination of the Warrant Agreement .  A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant.  The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

9.6                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

9.7                                Effect of Headings .  The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

9.8                                Amendments .  This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders.  All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of only the Private Placement Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 , respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

 

9.9                                Severability .  This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof.  Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

 

Exhibit B Legend — Private Placement Warrants

 

15



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

[ · ]

 

Title:

[       ]

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]

 

16


 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

 

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

 

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP 92243N 111

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that                 , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of            redeemable warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “ Warrants ” and each, a “ Warrant ”) to purchase shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”), of  VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).  Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “ Exercise Price ”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “ cashless exercise ” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock.  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant.  If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.  The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share.  The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.  The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

A- 1



 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

A- 2



 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

[ · ]

 

Title:

[       ]

 

A- 3



 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive            shares of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of                 , 2018 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “ holders ” or “ holder ” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants.  A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement.  The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent.  In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.  If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

 

A- 4



 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive                  shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) in the amount of $           in accordance with the terms hereof.  The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                  and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to                   whose address is                 .  If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                   and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                 .

 

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b)  and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c)  of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c)  of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock.  If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                   and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                 .

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A- 5



 

Date:                  , 20

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Address)

 

 

 

 

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

 

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 

A- 6



 

EXHIBIT B

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS LEGEND

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.  IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP. (THE “COMPANY”), VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

 

SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY AND SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”

 

No. [ · ] Warrants

 

B- 1




Exhibit 5.1

, 2018

 

Cowen and Company, LLC
   As Representative of the several Underwriters

599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022

 

Re:                              VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of (i) 20,000,000 units (the “ Units ”), each Unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and three-fourths of one warrant, with each whole warrant (a “ Warrant ”) entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) all shares of Common Stock and all Warrants included in the Units (collectively, the “ Securities ”).  This opinion is being delivered to you pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, dated [ · ], 2018 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Company and you, as representative of the Underwriters named on Schedule A thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

We have examined (i) a copy of the registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-224351) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on April 19, 2018, and of the amendments thereto filed by the Company with the Commission on [ · ], 2018, copies of the respective prospectuses in the forms included in the registration statement and the amendment[s] thereto (the registration statement, as amended at the time at which it became effective, including the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, and also including the exhibits and schedules thereto, taken together, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ” and (ii) a copy of the final prospectus dated [ · ], 2018 in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Prospectus ”).  The preliminary prospectus dated [ · ], 2018 relating to the Securities that were included in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package set forth in the Underwriting Agreement are hereinafter referred to as the “ Statutory Prospectus. ”  “ Applicable Time ” means immediately prior to [ · ], New York City time, on the date of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

The Commission has posted a Notice of Effectiveness on its website stating that the Registration Statement became effective under the Act at [ · ] p.m., New York City time, on [ · ], 2018.  The Commission’s website indicates that, as of the date hereof, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement had been issued under the Act.  To our knowledge, no

 



 

proceedings for the purpose of issuing a stop order with respect to the Registration Statement have been instituted or are pending.

 

We have also examined the Underwriting Agreement and the originals, or copies identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records of the Company; certificates of public officials, officers of the Company, and other persons; and other documents, agreements, and instruments as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.  In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, and the legal capacity of all natural persons.  In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have relied as to certain factual matters upon the representations and warranties contained in or made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and on certificates of officers of the Company (the “ Management Certificates ”), copies of which have been delivered to your counsel, and certificates of public officials.

 

The opinions expressed below are limited to the law of the states of Delaware and New York and the federal law of the United States, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

(i)                                      The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation, in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

(ii)                                   The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to issue the Securities and enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Insider Letter, the Founders Subscription Agreements, the Unit Purchase Agreements, the Founder Promissory Note, the Administrative Services Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Anchor Subscription Agreements and the Registration Rights Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) and to perform its obligations thereunder and to own or lease, as the case may be, its properties and conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus;

 

(iii)                                The Units, Warrants, Common Stock and Forward Purchase Securities conform to the description thereof set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Securities”;

 

(iv)                               The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Common Stock included in the Units being delivered at such Time of Delivery) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and the shares of Common Stock will be free and clear of any preemptive or any similar rights;

 

2



 

(v)                                  The Founder Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and were issued free and clear of any preemptive or any similar rights;

 

(vi)                               The shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Units have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

 

(vii)                            To the best of our knowledge and other than as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company is a party or to which any property of the Company is subject that are required to be described in the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not so described.  Further, to the best of our knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

(viii)                         The outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  The holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to any preemptive rights under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company or the Delaware General Corporation Law to subscribe for the Units, the Warrants included in the Units, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise thereof or the shares of Common Stock included in the Units;

 

(ix)                               The Warrants included in the Units have been duly authorized and, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(x)                                  The Units have been duly authorized and, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Underwriting Agreement against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xi)                               The shares of Common Stock for which the Warrants are exercisable at the initial exercise price have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and upon issuance thereof on the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Warrants at exercise prices at or in excess of the par value of such shares of Common

 

3



 

Stock, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of any preemptive rights or any similar rights.  Except as provided for in the Underwriting Agreement with respect to the Underwriters’ over-allotment option, to our knowledge, as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company are outstanding ;

 

(xii)                            The statements included in the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus under the headings “Principal Stockholders”, “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Description of Securities”, in each case, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly summarize, in all material aspects, such legal matters, documents and proceedings;

 

(xiii)                         The statements in the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as such statements purport to summarize the United States federal tax laws referred to therein, are correct in all material respects, and also provides, in all material respects, a fair and accurate summary of the United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Common Stock and Warrants;

 

(xiv)                        The statements in the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus under the captions “Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest),” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of statutes or regulations referred to therein, fairly summarize such provisions in all material respects;

 

(xv)                           The Company will not, upon delivery and payment for the Units on the date hereof, be subject to Rule 419 under the Act and none of the Company’s outstanding securities will be deemed on the date hereof to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act;

 

(xvi)                        The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

 

(xvii)                     The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xviii)                  The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or

 

4



 

hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity ;

 

(xix)                        The Insider Letter has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Sponsor, and the Insider Letter is the valid and binding agreement of each of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against each of the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xx)                           The Founders Subscription Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxi)                        The Unit Purchase Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxii)                     The Founder Promissory Note has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxiii)                  The Administrative Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxiv)                 The Forward Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

5



 

(xxv)                    The Anchor Subscription Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Sponsor and are valid and binding agreements of each of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxvi)                 The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Sponsor and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against each of the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity;

 

(xxvii)              The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds thereof, as described in the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company”, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement;

 

(xxviii)           No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing, qualification, license or permit of or with any court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body (each, a “ Filing ”) is required under any of the laws of Delaware, New York and Federal law of the United States (each individually a “ Included Law ” and collectively the “ Included Laws ”) for the issue and sale of the Units, or the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for (a) routine Filings necessary in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business, (b) Filings necessary in connection with the exercise of remedies under the Transaction Documents, (c) such Filings as may be required under any foreign securities laws or securities or blue sky laws of any state or other jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, as to which we express no opinion, (d) such Filings as have been made or obtained under the Act, (e) such Filings as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (f) Filings related to environmental matters, ERISA matters, taxes and intellectual property, (g) Filings required to maintain corporate and similar standing and existence and (h) such Filings as have been duly obtained on or prior to the date hereof and are in full force and effect;

 

(xxix)                 The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company do not, the issue and sale of the Units, the performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents by the Company will not (a) breach or result in a default of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company, (b) breach or result in a

 

6



 

default of any agreement or other instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (c) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to us to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, (d) violate any (i) statute, rule or regulation of any Included Law or (ii) judgment, writ, decree or order known to us of any court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its property;

 

(xxx)                    Except as set forth in the Prospectus and to our knowledge, no holders of securities of the Company or any holders of rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement; and

 

(xxxi)                 The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

 

In rendering our opinions set forth in paragraph (viii) above, we have relied, as to the factual matter as to whether payment in full for the outstanding Common Stock of the Company has occurred, solely upon representations of the Company set forth in the Management Certificates to the effect that all issued shares of Common Stock have been fully paid for in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing each issuance of such Common Stock.

 

Because the primary purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters or financial, accounting or quantitative information and because many determinations involved in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are of a wholly or partially non-legal character, we do not pass upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and make no representation that we have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements.

 

However, in the course of acting as counsel to the Company in connection with its preparation of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, prior to the filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we participated in telephone conversations with representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, representatives of the Underwriters and representatives of the Underwriters’ counsel, during which conversations the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and we reviewed certain corporate records and documents furnished to us by the Company.

 

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Subject to the foregoing, on the basis of the information gained by us in the course of our participation in such conversations and our review of such documents, we confirm that:

 

1)              Each of the Registration Statement, as of its effective date and the date hereof, the Statutory Prospectus, as of its date and the date hereof, and the Prospectus, as of its date and the date hereof, appears on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and all applicable rules and regulations thereunder, except that (i) we express no view as to the financial statements, financial schedules and other financial, accounting and statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom and (ii) we express no view as to the antifraud provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated under such provisions;

 

2)              No facts have come to our attention that cause us to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, on its effective date and the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) the Statutory Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, which you have informed us is a time prior to the time of the first sale of the Units by any Underwriter, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; or (iii) the Prospectus at the date thereof and the date hereof contained or at the date hereof contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, in each case, we express no view as to the financial statements, financial schedules and other financial, accounting and statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom included or incorporated by reference in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus; and

 

3)              We do not know of any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus other than those that are filed as exhibits thereto or described therein.

 

In addition, based on the foregoing, we confirm to you that the Prospectus has been filed with the Commission within the time period required by Rule 424 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act.

 

No opinion is expressed as to the enforceability of the obligations of the Company under any agreement to the extent that enforceability of the rights, obligations, and agreements is subject to, affected by, or limited by: (A) applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws from time to time in effect under state and/or federal law, (B) general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (C) the exercise of the discretionary powers of any court or other authority before which

 

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may be brought any proceeding seeking equitable remedies, including, without limitation, specific performance and injunctive relief, (D) applicable fraudulent conveyance laws from time to time in effect, and (E) the limitations on indemnification and contribution arising under federal and state securities laws.

 

This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinions may be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

 

The opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinions to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in law that may hereafter occur.

 

As used herein, the phrase “to our knowledge,” “known to us,” or any similar expression or phrase with respect to our knowledge of matters of fact, means as to matters of fact that, based on the actual knowledge of the attorneys within the firm who have been actively involved in the representation of the Company (and not including any constructive or imputed notice of any information).  After an examination of those documents referred to herein, no facts have come to our attention that has caused us to conclude that the opinions expressed herein are factually incorrect.  Except to the extent expressly set forth herein or as we otherwise believe to be necessary to our opinion, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of any fact, and no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of any fact should be drawn from our representation of the Company or the rendering of the opinions set forth herein.

 

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This opinion letter has been issued solely for the benefit of the Underwriters in connection with the transaction described above and no other party or entity shall be entitled to rely hereon without the express written consent of this firm.  Without our prior written consent, this opinion letter may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any document or report and may not be furnished to any person or entity.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

DRAFT

 

 

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

 

10




Exhibit 10.1

 

[ · ], 2018

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

Re:  Initial Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “ Letter Agreement ”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) to be entered into by and between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Cowen and Company, LLC, as representative (the “ Representative ”) of the several underwriters (each, an “ Underwriter ” and collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, as qualified independent underwriter, relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “ Public Offering ”), of 23,000,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 3,000,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (each, a “ Unit ”), each Unit comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant (each, a “Warrant”).  Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.  The Units shall be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and the Company shall apply to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.  Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”), Cowen Investments LLC (“ Cowen ”) and each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each such other undersigned individual, an “ Insider ” and collectively, the “ Insiders ”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1.                                       The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider agrees that (a) if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval; and (b) if the Company engages in a tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall not sell any shares of Common Stock to the Company in connection therewith.

 

2.                                       The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering, or such longer period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “ Offering Shares ”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.  The Sponsor, Cowen, and each Insider agree not to propose any amendment to the Company’s amended and

 



 

restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) earned on the funds in the Trust Account divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her, provided , that the foregoing waiver shall not apply with respect to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account made in connection with any Offering Shares purchased by the undersigned or its Affiliates during the Public Offering or on the open market after the completion of the Public Offering if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within 24 months of the completion of the Public Offering.  The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock (although the Sponsor, Cowen, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering).

 

3.                                       Without limiting Cowen’s obligations under paragraph 7 hereof, during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, Cowen shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate any of its Founder Shares or Private Units (or any securities underlying the Private Units, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Private Units and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants included in the Private Units), or subject any of such securities to any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2).  Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b) below, during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise)), directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any Units, shares of Common Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Common Stock, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction.  Each of the Sponsor and the Insiders acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 3 or paragraph 7 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.  Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release.  The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of securities that is not for consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

4.                                       In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company

 

2



 

may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other than the Company’s independent accountants) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement (a “ Target ”); provided , however , that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent public accountants) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per share of the Offering Shares or (ii) such lesser amount per share of the Offering Shares held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case, net of the amount of interest earned on the property in the Trust Account which may be withdrawn to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), except as to any claims by a third party (including a Target) who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Sponsor shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims.  The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.

 

5.                                       (a)  To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Units to cover over-allotments within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor and Cowen agree to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to the product of 504,182, in the case of the Sponsor, or 189,000 in the case of Cowen, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,000,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their option to purchase additional Units, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,000,000.  The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Initial Stockholders will own an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock after the Public Offering (excluding shares of Common Stock included in the Private Units and assuming no Initial Stockholder purchases units in the Public Offering).

 

(b)  If, in connection with the closing of a Business Combination, the Sponsor agrees to forfeit any Founder Shares or Private Units to the Company at no cost or subject its Founder Shares or Private Units to contractual terms or restrictions, convert its Founder Shares into other securities or contractual rights or otherwise modify the terms of its Founder Shares or Private Units (each a “ Sponsor Modification ”), then Cowen agrees to forfeit, subject, convert or modify its Founder Shares or Private Units on a pro rata basis and on the same terms as the Sponsor, and hereby grants to the Company and any representative designated by the Company without further action by Cowen a limited irrevocable power of attorney to effect such forfeiture or Sponsor Modification on behalf of Cowen, which power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

6.                                       (a)  Each Insider agrees not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until the Company has (i) entered into a definitive agreement regarding its initial Business Combination or  (ii) failed to complete a Business Combination within 24 months after the closing of the Public Offering.

 

(b)                                  The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that:  (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6(a), 7(a), 7(b), and 9 of this Letter Agreement (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

7.                                       (a)  The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares or Private Units (or any securities underlying the Private Units, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Private Units and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants included in the Private Units) (collectively, the “ Securities ”) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations,

 

3



 

recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “ Founder Shares Lock-up Period ”).

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraph 7(a), Transfers of the Securities that are held by the Sponsor, Cowen, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(b)), are permitted (i) to any persons (including their affiliates and members) participating in the private placement of the Private Units; (ii) to the Founders or any of the Company’s officers, directors and employees; (iii) in the case of an entity, as a distribution to its partners, stockholders or members upon liquidation; (iv) in the case of an individual, by bona fide gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family, or for estate planning purposes; (v) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (vi) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (vii) by pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities; (viii) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the applicable securities were originally purchased; (ix)  to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination; or (x) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; provided , however , that in the case of clauses (i) through (viii), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the restrictions herein.

 

8.                                       The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider represents and warrants that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked.  Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background.  The Sponsor and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects.  The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider represents and warrants that:  it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.

 

9.                                       Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider, nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the amounts described in the Prospectus under the heading “Summary — The Offering — Limited Payments to Insiders”.

 

10.                                The Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.

 

11.                                As used herein, (i) “ Business Combination ” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “ Founder Shares ” shall mean the 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock, (or 5,000,000 shares if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is not exercised) initially held by the Initial Stockholders; (iii) “ Initial Stockholders ” shall mean the Sponsor, Cowen and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (iv) “ Private Units ” shall mean the units that the Sponsor, Cowen and certain other Initial Stockholders have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $6,000,000 (or

 

4



 

$6,600,000 if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), or $10.00 per unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (v) “ Public Stockholders ” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vi) “ Trust Account ” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering shall be deposited; and (vii) “ Transfer ” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

 

12.                                This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the Company, the Sponsor, Cowen and any Insider that is subject of any such change, amendment, modification or waiver.

 

13.                                No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties.  Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.  This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor, Cowen and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

14.                                Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof.  All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees; provided , however , that the Underwriters shall benefit from the provisions set forth in paragraphs 3 and 7, which such paragraph shall not be amended or modified without the written consent of the Representative.

 

15.                                This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

16.                                This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof.  Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

17.                                This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.  The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

18.                                Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.

 

5



 

19.                                This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided , however , that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by June 30, 2018; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

6



 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

Title:

Manager

 

 

 

COWEN INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

[       ]

 

Title:

[       ]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Mary Chan

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Steve Shindler

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Robert Gendelman

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Sarah W. Hallac

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Richard J. Lynch

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Victoria McInnis

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 




Exhibit 10.2

 

FORM OF

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made effective as of        , 2018 by and between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-224351 (the “ Registration Statement ”) and prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “ Units ”), each of which consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “ Offering ”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with Cowen and Company, LLC as representative (the “ Representative ”) of the several underwriters (the “ Underwriters ”) named therein; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $200,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $230,000,000 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “ Trust Account ”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of shares of the Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “ Property ,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “ Public Stockholders ,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “ Beneficiaries ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain business combination marketing agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2018, with the Representative and the other Underwriters, pursuant to which the Company will pay the Underwriters a cash fee (the “ M&A Fee ”) for certain advisory services upon the consummation of the initial business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1.                                       Agreements and Covenants of Trustee .  The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a)                                  Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;

 

(b)                                  Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

(c)                                   In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account

 



 

will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;

 

(d)                                  Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “ Property ,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e)                                   Promptly notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f)                                    Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;

 

(g)                                   Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;

 

(h)                                  Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i)                                      Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“ Termination Letter ”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B , as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) or other authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of any taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (i) 24 months after the closing of the Offering and (ii) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of any taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date; provided , however , that in the event the Trustee receives a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to Exhibit B hereto, or if the Trustee begins to liquidate the Property because it has received no such Termination Letter by the date specified in clause (y) of this Section 1(i), the Trustee shall keep the Trust Account open until twelve (12) months following the date the Property has been distributed to the Public Stockholders;

 

(j)                                     Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C , withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation, including any franchise tax obligations, owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority, as applicable; provided , however , that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided , further , that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill from the State of Delaware for the Company and a written statement from the principal financial officer of the Company setting forth the actual amount payable (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account).  The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;

 

2



 

(k)                                  Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D , the Trustee shall distribute to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders properly submitted pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.7 of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation; and

 

(l)                                      Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section  1(i) , (j)  or (k)  above.

 

2.                                       Agreements and Covenants of the Company .  The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a)                                  Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Secretary.  In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i) , 1(j)  and 1(k)  hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.  Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b) , it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “ Indemnified Claim ”).  The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

(c)                                   Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time.  It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i)  through 1(k)  hereof.  The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering.  The Trustee shall refund to the Company the monthly fee (on a pro rata basis) with respect to any period after the liquidation of the Trust Account.  The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c) , Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b)  hereof;

 

(d)                                  In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

(e)                                   Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;

 

(f)                                    Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement;

 

3



 

(g)                                   Expressly provide in any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A that the M&A Fee be paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representative; and

 

(h)                                  Within four (4) business days after the Underwriters’ exercise of the overallotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment option expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the M&A Fee, which shall in no event be less than $7.0 million (or $8.05 million if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).

 

3.                                       Limitations of Liability .  The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a)                                  Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;

 

(b)                                  Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;

 

(c)                                   Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;

 

(d)                                  Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

 

(e)                                   Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

 

(f)                                    The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s reasonable best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.  The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons.  The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

(g)                                   Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;

 

(h)                                  Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(i)                                      File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;

 

(j)                                     Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j)  hereof; or

 

4



 

(k)                                  Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i) , 1(j)  and 1(k)  hereof.

 

4.                                       Trust Account Waiver .  The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“ Claim ”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future.  In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b)  or Section 2(c)  hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

5.                                       Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

(a)                                  If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement.  At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided , however , that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

(b)                                  At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i)  hereof  and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b) .

 

6.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account.  The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons.  Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel.  In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank.  Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.  This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

(c)                                   This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(d)                                  This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to Section 6(c)  hereof with the Consent of the Stockholders, it being the specific intention of the parties hereto that each of the Company’s stockholders is, and shall be, a third party beneficiary of this Section 6(d)  with the same right and power to enforce this Section 6(d)  as the other parties hereto.  For purposes of this Section 6(d), the “ Consent of the Stockholders ” means receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from the inspector of elections of the

 

5



 

stockholder meeting certifying that either (i) the Company’s stockholders of record as of a record date established in accordance with Section 213(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (“ DGCL ”) (or any successor rule), who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification, including a corresponding change to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or (ii) the Company’s stockholders of record as of the record date who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock have delivered to such entity a signed writing approving such change, amendment or modification.  No such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his share of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote sought to amend this Agreement, including a corresponding change to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation.  Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections referenced above and shall be relieved of all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.

 

(e)                                   The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.  AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY .

 

(f)                                    Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by facsimile or email transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn:  Steven G. Nelson and Francis E. Wolf, Jr.
Fax No.:  (212) 509-5150

Email:  fwolf@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Stephen Girsky
Chief Executive Officer
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive Mamaroneck, NY 10543

Email:  sgirsky@vectoiq.com

 

in each case, with copies to:

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1750 Tysons Boulevard Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102
Attn.:  Jason T. Simon, Esq.
Fax No.:   (703) 714-8386

Email: simonj@gtlaw.com

 

and

 

Cowen and Company, LLC
599 Lexington Avenue, 20
th  Floor
New York, NY 10022

 

6



 

Attn.:  [ · ]
Email:  [ · ]

 

and

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94301

Attn.:

Gregg A. Noel, Esq.

 

Michael J. Zeidel, Esq.

Fax No.:  (650) 470-4570

 

 

Email:  gregg.noel@skadden.com; michael.zeidel@skadden.com

 

(g)                                   This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

 

(h)                                  Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder.  The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

 

(i)                                      This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.

 

(j)                                     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

(k)                                  Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

(l)                                      Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

7



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item

 

Time and method of payment

 

Amount

Initial acceptance fee

 

Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer

 

$

3,500.00

Annual fee

 

First year, initial closing of Offering by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the Offering by wire transfer or check

 

$

10,000.00

Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section  1(i), (j) and (k)

 

Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under Section 1

 

$

250.00

Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i)

 

Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i)

 

Prevailing rates

 

Sch- 1


 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn:  Steven Nelson and Francis E. Wolf, Jr.

 

Re:                              Trust Account No.                                              Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Trustee ”), dated as of           , 2018 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with (the “ Target Business ”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “ Business Combination ”) on or about [ insert date ] The Company shall notify you at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance (or such shorter time as you may agree) of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “ Consummation Date ”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account on [ insert date ], and to transfer the proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust checking account at [JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.] awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated substantially concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “ Notification ”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) a written instruction signed by the Company with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the M&A Fee from the Trust Account (the “ Instruction Letter ”) You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter.  In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company.  Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such written instruction as soon thereafter as possible.

 

Ex A- 1



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

cc: Cowen and Company, LLC

 

 

 

Ex A- 2



 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn:  Steven Nelson and Francis E. Wolf, Jr

 

Re:                              Trust Account No.                                              Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Trustee ”), dated as of           , 2018 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a Target Business within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account on           , 20    and to transfer the total proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to await distribution to the Public Stockholders The Company has selected [         ](1) as the record date for the purpose of determining the Public Stockholders entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds.  You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.  Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

cc: Cowen and Company, LLC

 

 


(1) 24 months from the closing of the Offering.

 

Ex B- 1



 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn:  Celeste Gonzalez and Patrick Small

 

Re:                              Trust Account No.                                              Tax Payment Instruction

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Trustee ”), dated as of           , 2018 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $      of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds [to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement] In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

cc: Cowen and Company, LLC

 

 

Ex C- 1



 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn:  Francis E. Wolf, Jr. and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re:                              Trust Account No.                                              Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k)  of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Trustee ”), dated as of           , 2018 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders of the Company $             of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the Company’s pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders’ rights, including  the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares of Common Stock if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the required time period.  As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

cc: Cowen and Company, LLC

 

 

Ex D- 1


 



Exhibit 10.5

 

FORM OF

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of      , 2018 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Purchaser ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an underwritten initial public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) of 20,000,000 units (“ Public Units ”), with each such unit consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of the Company and three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (subject to certain adjustments);

 

WHEREAS, the underwriters for the Public Offering have the option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Public Units within 45-days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be filed in connection with the Public Offering (the “ Registration Statement ”), solely to cover over-allotments (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser wishes to purchase 350,000 units, or up to 390,000 units if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full (the “ Private Units ”), in a private placement, as provided herein;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.                                           Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Units.

 

A.                                     Authorization of the Private Units .  The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Units to the Purchaser, and the issuance and sale of the securities underlying the Private Units, including the shares of Common Stock included in the Private Units (the “ Private Shares ”), the warrants included in the Private Units (the “ Private Warrants ”), as well as, upon proper exercise of the Private Warrants and against payment therefor, the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants (together with the Private Shares, the “ Unit Shares ”) (the aforenamed underlying securities, collectively, the “ Securities ”).

 

B.                                     Purchase and Sale of the Private Units .

 

(i)                                      As payment in full for an initial tranche of 350,000 Private Units (the “ Initial Private Units ”) being purchased under this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay $3,500,000 (the “ Purchase Price ”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the trust account (the “ Trust Account ”) at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, at least one (1) business day prior to the closing of the Public Offering.

 

(ii)                                   In the event that the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full or in part, Purchaser shall purchase up to an additional 40,000 Private Units (the “ Additional Private Units ”), in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is then exercised, and simultaneously with such purchase of Additional Private Units, as payment in full for the Additional Private Units being purchased hereunder, and at least one (1) business day prior to such closing of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, Purchaser shall pay $10.00 per Additional Private Unit, up to an aggregate amount of $400,000 by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the Trust Account.

 

(iii)                                The closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Private Units shall take place simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (the “ Initial Closing Date ”).  The closing of any purchase and sale of

 



 

Additional Private Units, if applicable, shall take place simultaneously with the applicable closing of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (such closing dates, together with the Initial Closing Date, the “ Closing Dates ” and each, a “ Closing Date ”).  The closings of the purchase and sale of the Initial Private Units and the Additional Private Units shall take place at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, the MetLife Building, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, or such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties hereto.

 

C.                                     Description of the Private Units .

 

(i)                                      Each Private Unit shall include one share of Common Stock and three-fourths (3/4) of a Private Warrant.  Each whole Private Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share (subject to certain adjustments);

 

(ii)                                   The Private Warrants shall have the terms set forth in a warrant agreement (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) to be entered into by the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering;

 

(iii)                                At or prior to the time of the Initial Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Company shall grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Units, including the underlying Securities.

 

Section 2.                                           Representations and Warranties of the Company .  As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

 

A.                                     Organization and Corporate Power .  The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company.  The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B.                                     Authorization; No Breach .

 

(i)                                      The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the Private Units (and the underlying Securities), have been duly authorized by the Company as of each of the Closing Dates.  This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

(ii)                                   The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof by the Company, including the issuance of the Private Units (and the underlying Securities), do not and will not as of any of the Closing Dates (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (each, as in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under United States federal or state securities laws.

 

C.                                     Title to Securities .  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Private Units, including the Private Warrants, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms

 

2



 

hereof and, as applicable, the terms of the Warrant Agreement, the Unit Shares, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, and, as applicable, the terms of the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.

 

D.                                     Governmental Consents .  No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3.                                           Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser .  As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

A.                                     Organization and Power .  The Purchaser is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser’s ability to purchase the Private Units.  The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B.                                     Authorization; No Breach .

 

(i)                                      This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii)                                   The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of the Closing Dates conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

 

C.                                     Investment Representations .

 

(i)                                      The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii)                                   The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

 

(iii)                                The Purchaser understands that the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

(iv)                               The Purchaser did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v)                                  The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Private Units, including the underlying

 

3



 

Securities, which have been requested by the Purchaser.  The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company.  The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Private Units, and the underlying Securities, involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

(vi)                               The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Private Units, or the underlying Securities, or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Private Units, or the underlying Securities, by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Private Units, including the underlying Securities.

 

(vii)                            The Purchaser understands that:  (a) the Private Units and the underlying Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) in a transaction subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Private Units or the underlying Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

 

(viii)                         The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time.  The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Private Units or the underlying Securities.  The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

Section 4.                                           Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations .  The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Units are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.                                     Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of the such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B.                                     Performance .  The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the such Closing Date.

 

C.                                     No Injunction .  No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D.                                     Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibits 4.4 and 10.7, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

 

E.                                      Insider Letter .  The Company shall have entered into a letter (the “ Insider Letter ”) by and among the Purchaser, the Company and certain other parties, setting forth certain voting agreements, restrictions on transfer (the “ Lock-ups ”) and other agreements applicable to the Securities, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

4



 

Section 5.                                           Conditions of the Company’s Obligations .  The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.                                     Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B.                                     Performance .  The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.

 

C.                                     No Injunction .  No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D.                                     Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibits 4.4 and 10.7, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

 

E.                                      Insider Letter .  The Purchaser shall have entered into an Insider Letter setting forth certain voting agreements, Lock-ups and other agreements applicable to the Securities, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

Section 6.                                           Lock-ups .  The Purchaser acknowledges that the Securities will be subject to the Lock-ups contained in the Insider Letter.

 

Section 7.                                           Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company or the Purchaser at any time after      , 2018 upon written notice to the other party hereto if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 8.                                           Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Dates.

 

Section 9.                                           Definitions .  Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 10.                                    Miscellaneous .

 

A.                                     Successors and Assigns .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof.

 

B.                                     Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

5



 

C.                                     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

D.                                     Descriptive Headings; Interpretation .  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E.                                      Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

F.                                       Amendments .  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

6



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

Name : Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

Title : President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

Name : Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

Title : Manager

 

Signature page to Unit Purchase Agreement (VectoIQ Holdings, LLC)

 

7




Exhibit 10.6

 

FORM OF

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of      , 2018 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Cowen Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Purchaser ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an underwritten initial public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) of 20,000,000 units (“ Public Units ”), with each such unit consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of the Company and three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (subject to certain adjustments);

 

WHEREAS, the underwriters for the Public Offering have the option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Public Units within 45-days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be filed in connection with the Public Offering (the “ Registration Statement ”), solely to cover over-allotments (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser wishes to purchase 200,000 units, or up to 220,000 units if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full (the “ Private Units ”), in a private placement, as provided herein;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.                                           Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Units.

 

A.                                     Authorization of the Private Units .  The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Units to the Purchaser, and the issuance and sale of the securities underlying the Private Units, including the shares of Common Stock included in the Private Units (the “ Private Shares ”), the warrants included in the Private Units (the “ Private Warrants ”), as well as, upon proper exercise of the Private Warrants and against payment therefor, the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants (together with the Private Shares, the “ Unit Shares ”) (the aforenamed underlying securities, collectively, the “ Securities ”).

 

B.                                     Purchase and Sale of the Private Units .

 

(i)                                      As payment in full for an initial tranche of 200,000 Private Units (the “ Initial Private Units ”) being purchased under this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay $2,000,000 (the “ Purchase Price ”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the trust account (the “ Trust Account ”) at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, at least one (1) business day prior to the closing of the Public Offering.

 

(ii)                                   In the event that the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full or in part, Purchaser shall purchase up to an additional 20,000 Private Units (the “ Additional Private Units ”), in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is then exercised, and simultaneously with such purchase of Additional Private Units, as payment in full for the Additional Private Units being purchased hereunder, and at least one (1) business day prior to such closing of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, Purchaser shall pay $10.00 per Additional Private Unit, up to an aggregate amount of $200,000 by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the Trust Account.

 

(iii)                                The closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Private Units shall take place simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (the “ Initial Closing Date ”).  The closing of any purchase and sale of Additional Private Units, if applicable, shall take place simultaneously with the applicable closing of all or any

 



 

portion of the Over-Allotment Option (such closing dates, together with the Initial Closing Date, the “ Closing Dates ” and each, a “ Closing Date ”).  The closings of the purchase and sale of the Initial Private Units and the Additional Private Units shall take place at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, the MetLife Building, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, or such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties hereto.

 

C.                                     Description of the Private Units .

 

(i)                                      Each Private Unit shall include one share of Common Stock and three-fourths (3/4) of a Private Warrant.  Each whole Private Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share (subject to certain adjustments);

 

(ii)                                   The Private Warrants shall have the terms set forth in a warrant agreement (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) to be entered into by the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering;

 

(iii)                                At or prior to the time of the Initial Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Company shall grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Units, including the underlying Securities.

 

Section 2.                                           Representations and Warranties of the Company .  As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

 

A.                                     Organization and Corporate Power .  The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company.  The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B.                                     Authorization; No Breach .

 

(i)                                      The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the Private Units (and the underlying Securities), have been duly authorized by the Company as of each of the Closing Dates.  This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

(ii)                                   The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof by the Company, including the issuance of the Private Units (and the underlying Securities), do not and will not as of any of the Closing Dates (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (each, as in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under United States federal or state securities laws.

 

C.                                     Title to Securities .  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Private Units, including the Private Warrants, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and, as applicable, the terms of the Warrant Agreement, the Unit Shares, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, and, as applicable, the terms of the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Units, including the

 

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underlying Securities, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.

 

D.                                     Governmental Consents .  No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3.                                           Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser .  As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

A.                                     Organization and Power .  The Purchaser is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser’s ability to purchase the Private Units.  The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B.                                     Authorization; No Breach .

 

(i)                                      This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii)                                   The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of the Closing Dates conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

 

C.                                     Investment Representations .

 

(i)                                      The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii)                                   The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

 

(iii)                                The Purchaser understands that the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

(iv)                               The Purchaser did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v)                                  The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, which have been requested by the Purchaser.  The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company.  The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Private Units, and the underlying Securities, involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

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(vi)                               The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Private Units, or the underlying Securities, or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Private Units, or the underlying Securities, by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Private Units, including the underlying Securities.

 

(vii)                            The Purchaser understands that:  (a) the Private Units and the underlying Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) in a transaction subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Private Units or the underlying Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

 

(viii)                         The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time.  The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Private Units or the underlying Securities.  The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Private Units and the underlying Securities.

 

Section 4.                                           Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations .  The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Units are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.                                     Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of the such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B.                                     Performance .  The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the such Closing Date.

 

C.                                     No Injunction .  No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D.                                     Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibits 4.4 and 10.7, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

 

E.                                      Insider Letter .  The Company shall have entered into a letter (the “ Insider Letter ”) by and among the Purchaser, the Company and certain other parties, setting forth certain voting agreements, restrictions on transfer (the “ Lock-ups ”) and other agreements applicable to the Securities, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

Section 5.                                           Conditions of the Company’s Obligations .  The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.                                     Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

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B.                                     Performance .  The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.

 

C.                                     No Injunction .  No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D.                                     Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement .  The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibits 4.4 and 10.7, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

 

E.                                      Insider Letter .  The Purchaser shall have entered into an Insider Letter setting forth certain voting agreements, Lock-ups and other agreements applicable to the Securities, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

Section 6.                                           Lock-ups .  The Purchaser acknowledges that the Securities will be subject to the Lock-ups contained in the Insider Letter. Additionally, the Purchaser acknowledges that the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will therefore be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or commencement of sales of the Public Offering, subject to certain limited exceptions, pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual. Accordingly, the Private Units, including the underlying Securities, may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement except to any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the Public Offering and the bona fide officers or partners of the Purchaser and any such participating underwriter or selected dealer nor may they be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person during such 180-day period.

 

Section 7.                                           Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company or the Purchaser at any time after      , 2018 upon written notice to the other party hereto if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 8.                                           Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Dates.

 

Section 9.                                           Definitions .  Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 10.                                    Miscellaneous .

 

A.                                     Successors and Assigns .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof.

 

B.                                     Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

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C.                                     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

D.                                     Descriptive Headings; Interpretation .  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E.                                      Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

F.                                       Amendments .  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

Name : Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

Title : President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

COWEN INVESTMENTS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

Name :

 

 

 

Title :

 

Signature page to Unit Purchase Agreement (Cowen Investments LLC)

 

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Exhibit 10.7

 

FORM OF

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of         , 2018, is made and entered into by and among VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sponsor ”), Cowen Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cowen Investments ” and together with the Sponsor, the “ Founders ”) and the undersigned parties listed under Holder on the signature pages hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor, Cowen Investments and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “ Holder ” and collectively the “ Holders ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on February 14, 2018 the Founders entered into separate subscription agreements pursuant to which the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares (the “ Founder Shares ”) of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), to the Founders;

 

WHEREAS , the Sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 60,000 Founder Shares to other Holders and forfeited an aggregate of 435,606 Founder Shares to the Company, and certain other Holders purchased an aggregate of 435,606 Founder Shares from the Company;

 

WHEREAS , up to an aggregate of 750,000 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is not exercised in full;

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to separate agreements with the Company, certain of the Holders have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 units of the Company (or up to 660,000 private units if the underwriters’ option  to purchase additional units in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “ Private Placement Units ”), with each such unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant (the “ Private Placement Warrants ”), in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering; each whole Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                                Definitions .  The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure ” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or any principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Combination ” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Cowen Investments ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Demand Registration ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Demanding Holder ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Form S-1 ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Form S-3 ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3 .

 

Founders ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Founder Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Holders ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

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Insider Letter ” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of        , 2018, by and among the Company, the Founders and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees.

 

Lock-up Period ” means, with respect to the Registrable Securities, the period ending on the earlier of one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or earlier if, subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination, or (y) such date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

Maximum Number of Securities ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4 .

 

Misstatement ” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 

Permitted Transferees ” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 .

 

Private Placement Units ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Private Placement Warrants ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Security ” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (c) the Private Placement Units (including any shares of Common Stock and Private Placement Warrants underlying the Private Placement Units), (d) any outstanding share of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (e) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder, and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger,

 

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consolidation or reorganization; provided , however , that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

Registration ” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.

 

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder ” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 .

 

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Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Sponsor ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Underwriter ” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Registration ” or “ Underwritten Offering ” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS

 

2.1                                Demand Registration .

 

2.1.1                      Request for Registration .  Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, (i) Cowen Investments or (ii) the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (Cowen Investments or such Holders, as the case may be, the “ Demanding Holders ”), may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “ Demand Registration ”).  The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “ Requesting Holder ”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company.  Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration.  Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided , however , that (i) this limitation shall not apply to any Demand Registration initiated by Cowen Investments which shall be governed by Section 3.6 and (ii)  a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“ Form S-1 ”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

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2.1.2                      Effective Registration .  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided , further , that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided , further , that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

2.1.3                      Underwritten Offering .  Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein.  All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

2.1.4                      Reduction of Underwritten Offering .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “ Maximum Number of Securities ”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be

 

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included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “ Pro Rata ”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.1.5                      Demand Registration Withdrawal .  Cowen Investments (in the case of a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 demanded by Cowen Investments), a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration.  If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), withdraws from a proposed offering pursuant to this Section 2.1.5 , then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1 , and, if Cowen Investments withdraws, Sections 2.1 and 3.6 .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5 ; provided that if the Company pays such expenses related to a Demand Registration initiated by Cowen Investments, such registration shall count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 3.6 .

 

2.2                                Piggyback Registration .

 

2.2.1                      Piggyback Rights .  If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may

 

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request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof.  All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

2.2.2                      Reduction of Piggyback Registration .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection   2.2.1 hereof, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 , pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold

 

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without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.2.3                      Piggyback Registration Withdrawal .  Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration.  The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3 .

 

2.2.4                      Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights .  For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

2.3                                Registrations on Form S-3 .  The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“ Form S-3 ”); provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering.  Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company.  As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable

 

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Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000.

 

2.4                                Restrictions on Registration Rights .  If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement.  In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided , however , that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12 month period.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Registration Statement shall become effective with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Holder until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.

 

ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1                                General Procedures .  If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1                      prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

 

3.1.2                      prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

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3.1.3                      prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4                      prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

3.1.5                      cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6                      provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7                      advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8                      at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

3.1.9                      notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in

 

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effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.10               permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided , however , that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

3.1.11               obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.12               on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.13               in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

3.1.14               make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a)  of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

3.1.15               if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.16               otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

 

3.2                                Registration Expenses .  The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company.  It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all

 

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incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “ Registration Expenses ,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3                                Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings .  No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

3.4                                Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure .  Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.  If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose.  In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.  The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4 .

 

3.5                                Reporting Obligations .  As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a)  or 15(d)  of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings.  The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions.  Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

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3.6                                Limitations on Registration Rights .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) Cowen Investments may not exercise its rights under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, from the effective date of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-224351, and (ii) Cowen Investments may not exercise its rights under Section 2.1 more than one time.

 

ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

4.1                                Indemnification .

 

4.1.1                      The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and agents and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.  The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

4.1.2                      In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided , however , that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.  The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

4.1.3                      Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to

 

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indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.  No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.1.4                      The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.  The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

4.1.5                      If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided , however , that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1 , 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this

 

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subsection 4.1.5 .  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)  of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1                                Notices .  Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile.  Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.  Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, Attention: Stephen Girsky, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or facsimile number as set forth in the Company’s books and records.  Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1 .

 

5.2                                Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries .

 

5.2.1                      This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

5.2.2                      Prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee, but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement and other applicable agreements.

 

5.2.3                      This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

5.2.4                      This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.

 

5.2.5                      No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be

 

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accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement).  Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

 

5.3                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

5.4                                Governing Law; Venue .  NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

5.5                                Amendments and Modifications .  Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected, and (b) any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects the rights of any of Multi-Strategy Master Fund Limited, Blackrock Credit Alpha Master Fund L.P. or HC NCBR Fund shall require the consent of such entity.  No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company.  No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

5.6                                Other Registration Rights .  The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account

 

17



 

of any other person.  Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

5.7                                Term .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) no Registrable Securities remain outstanding.  The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

18



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.,

 

a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDERS:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC,

 

a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Manager

 

 

 

COWEN INVESTMENTS LLC,

 

a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

 

MULTI-STRATEGY MASTER FUND LIMITED

 

 

 

By: BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., its Investment Manager

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

BLACKROCK CREDIT ALPHA MASTER

 

FUND L.P.

 

 

 

By: BlackRock Financial Management Inc., in its

 

capacity as investment advisor

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

HC NCBR FUND

 

 

 

By: BlackRock Financial Management Inc., in its

 

capacity as investment advisor

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Gendelman

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah W. Hallac

 

 

 

 

 

Richard J. Lynch

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria McInnis

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 




Exhibit 10.8

 

FORM OF

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of          , 2018, by and between VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and                    (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;

 

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Charter ”) and the Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“ DGCL ”). The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;

 

WHEREAS , the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS , the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS , it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

 

WHEREAS , Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of     , 2018, among the Company, the Indemnitee and the other parties thereto, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 



 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

1.                                       SERVICES TO THE COMPANY .  In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders his resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.

 

2.                                       DEFINITIONS .  As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “ agent ” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, advisor, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  The terms “ Beneficial Owner ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c)                                   A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i)                                      Acquisition of Stock by Third Party .  Other than an affiliate of VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”), any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;

 

(ii)                                   Change in Board of Directors .  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “ Continuing Directors ”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

(iii)                                Corporate Transactions .  The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an affiliate of Sponsor, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were

 



 

Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;

 

(iv)                               Liquidation .  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

 

(v)                                  Other Events .  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

(d)                                  Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(e)                                   Delaware Court ” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.

 

(f)                                    Disinterested Director ” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   Enterprise ” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

 

(h)                                  Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(i)                                      Expenses ” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below). Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(j)                                     References to “ fines ” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “ serving at the request of the Company ” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Company ” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

(k)                                  Independent Counsel ” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar

 



 

indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(l)                                      The term “ Person ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(m)                              The term “ Proceeding ” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or of any action (or failure to act) on his part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

 

(n)                                  The term “ Subsidiary ,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.

 

3.                                       INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS .  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

4.                                       INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY .  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court

 



 

shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.

 

5.                                       INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL .  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

6.                                       INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, he shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

 

7.                                       ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS.  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

 

8.                                       CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY .

 

(a)                                  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

(c)                                   The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 



 

9.                                       EXCLUSIONS .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;

 

(b)                                  for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

 

(c)                                   except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f)-(g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.

 

10.                                ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws of the Company, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

11.                                PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

 



 

(b)                                  Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

12.                                PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a)                                  A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods: (i) if no Change in Control has occurred, (x) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (y) by a committee of Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (z) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (ii) if a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 



 

13.                                PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS .

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

14.                                REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE .

 

(a)                                  In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of

 



 

indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

 

(c)                                   In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

 

(d)                                  If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(e)                                   The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter, or the Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).

 

(g)                                   Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests

 



 

indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

15.                                SECURITY .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

 

16.                                NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION .

 

(a)                                  The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  The DGCL, the Charter and the Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“ Indemnification Arrangements ”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or incurred by or on behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

 

(c)                                   To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managers, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(d)                                  In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 


 

(e)                                   The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.

 

17.                                DURATION OF AGREEMENT .  All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

 

18.                                SEVERABILITY .  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

19.                                ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT .

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(c)                                   The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 



 

(d)                                  The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

(e)                                   The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

20.                                MODIFICATION AND WAIVER .  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

21.                                NOTICES .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on such delivery or (ii) if, mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company, to:

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
Attention: Stephen Girsky

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000
McLean, Virginia 22102
Attn: Jason Simon, Esq.
Fax No.: (703) 749-1301

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

 

22.                                APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION .  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal

 



 

court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

 

23.                                IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

24.                                MISCELLANEOUS .  Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

25.                                PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS .  No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

 

26.                                ADDITIONAL ACTS .  If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

 

27.                                WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT .  Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “ Claim ”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

28.                                MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE .  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement.  Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies.  In all such insurance policies, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

[Signature page to Indemnity Agreement]

 




Exhibit 10.9

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS “NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”).  THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE

 

Principal Amount:  Up to $100,000

 

Dated as of March 1, 2018

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Maker ”), promises to pay to the order of VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (the “ Payee ”), or order, the principal sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), or such lesser amount as shall have been advanced by Payee to Maker and shall remain unpaid under this Note, in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below.  All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by the Maker to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.

 

This Note amends and restates in its entirety that certain promissory note, dated February 23, 2018, made by the Maker in favor of the Payee (the “ Prior Note ”), and the unpaid principal balance of the indebtedness evidenced by the Prior Note as of the date hereof is being merged into and will hereafter be evidenced by, this Note.

 

1.                                       Principal.  The principal balance of Note shall be payable on the earlier of: (i) June 30, 2018 and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities (the “ IPO ”). The principal balance may be prepaid at any time.

 

2.                                       Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

3.                                       Drawdown Requests.  The principal of this Note may be drawn down from time to time prior to the earlier of: (i) June 30, 2018 and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates the IPO, upon request from Maker to Payee (each, a “ Drawdown Request ”). Payee shall fund each Drawdown Request within five (5) business days after receipt of a Drawdown Request; provided, however , that (a) the maximum amount of drawdowns collectively under this Note (including drawdowns made prior to the date hereof under the Prior Note) is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and (b) an equal amount of principal is drawn down upon under that certain Promissory Note, dated as of the date hereof, between the Maker and Cowen Investments, LLC (the “ Second Note ”). Once an amount is drawn down under this Note, it shall not be available for future Drawdown Requests even if prepaid. No fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with, or as a result of, any Drawdown Request by Maker.

 

4.                                       Application of Payments.  All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

5.                                       Events of Default.  The following shall constitute an event of default (“ Event of Default ”):

 

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(a)                                  Failure to Make Required Payments . Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note or the Second Note within five (5) business days of the date specified in Section 1 above.

 

(b)                                  Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc . The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

(c)                                   Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc . The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

6.                                       Remedies.

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

(b)                                  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 5(b) or 5(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.

 

7.                                       Waivers.  Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.

 

8.                                       Unconditional Liability.  Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.

 

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9.                                       Notices.   All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered: (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service to the address designated in writing by such party, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party or (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party.  Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic mail, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

 

10.                                Construction.  THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

11.                                Severability.  Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

12.                                Trust Waiver .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“ Claim ”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account to be established in which the proceeds of the IPO and the proceeds of the sale of the units issued in private placements to occur prior to the consummation of the IPO are to be deposited, as described in greater detail in the registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

13 .                                Amendment; Waiver .  Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of the Maker and the Payee.  The Second Note shall not be amended without the prior written consent of the Payee.

 

14 .                                Assignment .  No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Shindler

 

 

Name: Steven Shindler

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE]

 

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Exhibit 10.10

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS “NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”).  THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

Principal Amount:  Up to $100,000

 

Dated as of March 1, 2018

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Maker ”), promises to pay to the order of Cowen Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (the “ Payee ”), or order, the principal sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), or such lesser amount as shall have been advanced by Payee to Maker and shall remain unpaid under this Note, in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below.  All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by the Maker to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.

 

1.                                       Principal.  The principal balance of Note shall be payable on the earlier of: (i) June 30, 2018 and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities (the “ IPO ”). The principal balance may be prepaid at any time.

 

2.                                       Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

3.                                       Drawdown Requests.  The principal of this Note may be drawn down from time to time prior to the earlier of: (i) June 30, 2018 and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates the IPO, upon request from Maker to Payee (each, a “ Drawdown Request ”). Payee shall fund each Drawdown Request within five (5) business days after receipt of a Drawdown Request; provided, however , that (a) the maximum amount of drawdowns collectively under this Note is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and (b) an equal amount of principal is drawn down upon under that certain Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of the date hereof, between the Maker and VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Second Note ”); provided , further , that on the date hereof, payee may make a Drawdown Request equal to the lesser of (i) the amount drawn down as of the date hereof under the Second Note and (ii) One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). Once an amount is drawn down under this Note, it shall not be available for future Drawdown Requests even if prepaid. No fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with, or as a result of, any Drawdown Request by Maker.

 

4.                                       Application of Payments.  All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

5.                                       Events of Default.  The following shall constitute an event of default (“ Event of Default ”):

 

(a)                                  Failure to Make Required Payments . Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note or the Second Note within five (5) business days of the date specified in Section 1 above.

 

1



 

(b)                                  Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc . The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

(c)                                   Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc . The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

6.                                       Remedies.

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

(b)                                  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 5(b) or 5(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.

 

7.                                       Waivers.  Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.

 

8.                                       Unconditional Liability.  Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.

 

9.                                       Notices.  All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered: (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service to the address designated in writing by such party, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in

 

2



 

writing by such party or (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party.  Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic mail, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

 

10.                                Construction.  THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

11.                                Severability.  Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

12.                                Trust Waiver .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“ Claim ”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account to be established in which the proceeds of the IPO and the proceeds of the sale of the units issued in private placements to occur prior to the consummation of the IPO are to be deposited, as described in greater detail in the registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

13 .                                Amendment; Waiver .  Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of the Maker and the Payee.  The Second Note shall not be amended without the prior written consent of the Payee.

 

14 .                                Assignment .  No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven Shindler

 

 

Name: Steven Shindler

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO PROMISSORY NOTE]

 

4




Exhibit 10.11

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

[     ], 2018

 

VectoIQ Holdings, LLC

1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

Re: Administrative Services Agreement

 

Gentlemen:

 

This letter agreement will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the date the securities of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) are first listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ Listing Date ”), and continuing until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination and the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-224351) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “ Termination Date ”), VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”) shall make available to the Company certain office space and general and administrative services as may be reasonably requested by the Company.  In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay the Sponsor the sum of $10,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date.

 

The Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title, interest, causes of action and claims of any kind (each, a “ Claim ”) in or to, and any and all right to seek payment of any amounts due to it out of, the trust account established for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering will be deposited (the “ Trust Account ”), and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it has or may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement, which Claim would reduce, encumber or otherwise adversely affect the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and further agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.

 

This letter agreement, the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

 

[Signature page follows]

 



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Manager

 

 

[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]

 




Exhibit 14

 

FORM OF CODE OF ETHICS

 

OF

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

1.                                       Introduction

 

The Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) has adopted this code of ethics (this “ Code ”), as amended from time to time by the Board and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees to:

 

·                   Promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

·                   promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company;

 

·                   promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

·                   deter wrongdoing; and

 

·                   require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code.

 

·                   This Code may be amended and modified by the Board.  In this Code, references to the “Company” mean VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.

 

2.                                       Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct

 

Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain and advantage.

 

Each person must:

 

·                   Act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests;

 

·                   Observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

·                   Comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data;

 

·                   Adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices;

 

·                   Deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees;

 

·                   Refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice;

 

·                   Protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use; and

 



 

·                   Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board) or as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·                   any significant ownership interest in any target, supplier or customer;

 

·                   any consulting or employment relationship with any target, supplier or customer;

 

·                   the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any entity with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings;

 

·                   selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell;

 

·                   any other financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company; and

 

·                   any other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes — or even appears to interfere — with the interests of the Company as a whole.

 

3.                                       Disclosure

 

The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:

 

·                   not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and

 

·                   in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”) and Chief Financial Officer (“ CFO ”) of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.

 

Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board (if any), any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.

 

4.                                       Compliance

 

It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. All directors, officers and employees of the Company are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them in their positions with the Company. Employees are responsible for talking to their supervisors to determine which laws, regulations and Company policies apply to their position and what training is necessary to understand and comply with them.

 

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Directors, officers and employees are directed to specific policies and procedures available to persons they supervise.

 

5.                                       Reporting and Accountability

 

The Board is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman of the Board promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.

 

Specifically, each person must:

 

·                   Notify the Chairman of the Board promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code.

 

·                   Not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.

 

The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on this Code:

 

·                   The Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it.

 

·                   Upon determination by the Board that a breach has occurred, the Board (by majority decision) will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Company’s legal counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities.

 

No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.

 

6.                                       Waivers and Amendments

 

Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. In lieu of filing a current report on Form 8-K to report any such waivers or amendments, the Company may provide such information on a website, in the event that it establishes one in the future, and if it keeps such information on the website for at least 12 months and discloses the website address as well as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

A “waiver” means the approval by the Company’s Board of a material departure from a provision of this Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.

 

All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.

 

8.                                       Insider Information and Securities Trading

 

The Company’s directors, officers and employees who have access to material, non-public information are not permitted to use that information for securities trading purposes or for any purpose unrelated to the Company’s business. It is also against the law to trade or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision based on inside company information. For example, using non-public information to buy or sell the Company securities, options in

 

3



 

the Company securities or the securities of any Company supplier, customer, competitor or potential target is prohibited. The consequences of insider trading violations can be severe. These rules also apply to the use of material, nonpublic information about other companies (including, for example, the Company’s customers, competitors and potential business partners and potential targets). In addition to directors, officers or employees, these rules apply to such person’s spouse, children, parents and siblings, as well as any other family members living in such person’s home.

 

9.                                       Financial Statements and Other Records

 

All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.

 

Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s legal counsel.

 

10.                                Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits

 

No director or officer, or any other person acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of the Company’s directors.

 

Types of conduct that could constitute improper influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:

 

·                   Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services;

 

·                   Providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis;

 

·                   Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting;

 

·                   Seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting;

 

·                   Blackmailing; and

 

·                   Making physical threats.

 

11.                                Anti-Corruption Laws

 

The Company complies with the anti-corruption laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). To the extent prohibited by applicable law, directors, officers and employees will not directly or indirectly give anything of value to government officials, including employees of state-owned enterprises or foreign political candidates. These requirements apply both to Company employees and agents, such as third party sales representatives, no matter where they are doing business. If you are authorized to engage agents, you are responsible for ensuring they are reputable and for obtaining a written agreement to uphold the Company’s standards in this area.

 

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12.                                Violations

 

Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.

 

13.                                Other Policies and Procedures

 

Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.

 

14.                                Inquiries

 

All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Company’s Secretary, or such other compliance officer as shall be designated from time to time by the Company.

 

PROVISIONS FOR

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

 

The CEO and all senior financial officers, including the CFO and principal accounting officer, are bound by the provisions set forth in the Code relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, and compliance with law.  In addition to the Code, the CEO and senior financial officers are subject to the following additional specific policies:

 

1.                                       Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts between personal, private interests and the interests of the Company, including receiving improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

 

2.                                       Disclose to the CEO and the Board of Directors of the Company any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest.

 

3.                                       Perform responsibilities with a view to causing periodic reports and documents filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission and all other public communications made by the Company to contain information that is accurate, complete, fair, objective, relevant, timely and understandable, including full review of all annual and quarterly reports.

 

4.                                       Comply with laws, rules and regulations of federal, state and local governments applicable to the Company and with the rules and regulations of private and public regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the Company.

 

5.                                       Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting or omitting material facts or allowing independent judgment to be compromised or subordinated.

 

6.                                       Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of performance of his or her responsibilities except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose any such information; not use confidential information acquired in the course of performing his or her responsibilities for personal advantage.

 

7.                                       Share knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to the needs of the Company, its stockholders and other constituencies and the general public.

 

8.                                       Proactively promote ethical behavior among subordinates and peers in his or her work environment and community.

 

9.                                       Use and control all corporate assets and resources employed by or entrusted to him or her in a responsible manner.

 

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10.                                Not use corporate information, corporate assets, corporate opportunities or his or her position with the Company for personal gain; not compete directly or indirectly with the Company, subject to the certificate of incorporation in effect from time to time and to any other fiduciary or contractual obligations such officer may have.

 

11.                                Comply in all respects with the Company’s Code.

 

12.                                Advance the Company’s legitimate interests when the opportunity arises.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company will investigate any reported violations and will oversee an appropriate response, including corrective action and preventative measures.  Any officer who violates this Code will face appropriate, case specific disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.

 

Any request for a waiver of any provision of this Code must be in writing and addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  Any waiver of this Code will be disclosed as provided in Section 6 of this Code.

 

It is the policy of the Company that each officer covered by this Code shall acknowledge and certify to the foregoing annually and file a copy of such certification with the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION

 

I have read and understand the foregoing Code.  I hereby certify that I am in compliance with the foregoing Code and I will comply with the Code in the future.  I understand that any violation of the Code will subject me to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.

 

Dated:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

6




Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement (No. 333-224351) on Form S-1 of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. of our report dated April 19, 2018, relating to the financial statements of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ RSM US LLP

 

New York, New York

May 7, 2018

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

1.                                       STATUS

 

The Audit Committee (the “ Committee ”) is a committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and has adopted this charter on the date indicated below.

 

2.                                       PURPOSE

 

The Committee is appointed by the Board for the primary purposes of:

 

·                   Performing the Board’s oversight responsibilities as they relate to the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, financial reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance, including, among other things:

 

·                   the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

 

·                   the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

·                   review of the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence; and

 

·                   the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, if any, and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;

 

·                   Maintaining, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of communication between the Board and the Company’s financial management, internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm, including providing such parties with appropriate opportunities to meet separately and privately with the Committee on a periodic basis; and

 

·                   Preparing the report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“ SEC ”) rules.

 

3.                                       COMPOSITION AND QUALIFICATIONS

 

The Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall be comprised of three or more Directors (as determined from time to time by the Board), each of whom shall meet the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Act ”), the listing standards of any exchange or national listing market system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading (including, without limitation, the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”)) and all other applicable laws.

 

The chairperson of the Committee shall be designated by the Board, provided that if the Board does not designate a chairperson, the members of the Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson.

 

Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board.

 

Each member of the Committee shall be financially literate and at least one member of the Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities, as each such qualification is interpreted by the Board in its business judgment. In addition, at least

 



 

one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

4.                                       RESPONSIBILITIES

 

In carrying out its duties and responsibilities, the Committee’s policies and procedures should remain flexible, so that it may be in a position to best address, react or respond to changing circumstances or conditions.  The following duties and responsibilities are within the authority of the Committee and the Committee shall, consistent with and subject to applicable law and rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, Nasdaq, or any other applicable regulatory authority.

 

The Committee will:

 

1.                                       Review and discuss the annual audited financial statements and the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. In connection with such review, the Committee will:

 

·                   Discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees (as may be modified or supplemented) and the matters in the written disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence;

 

·                   Review significant changes in accounting or auditing policies;

 

·                   Review with the independent registered public accounting firm any problems or difficulties encountered in the course of their audit, including any change in the scope of the planned audit work and any restrictions placed on the scope of such work and management’s response to such problems or difficulties;

 

·                   Review with the independent registered public accounting firm, management and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls;

 

·                   Review reports required to be submitted by the independent registered public accounting firm concerning: (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of such alternatives, and the accounting treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm; (c) any other material written communications with management; and (d) any material financial arrangements of the Company which do not appear on the financial statements of the Company;

 

·                   Review (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent registered public accounting firm setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analysis of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements and the effects of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and

 

·                   Discuss policies and procedures concerning earnings press releases and review the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying

 

2



 

particular attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.

 

2.                                       Review and discuss the quarterly financial statements and the Company’s disclosures provided in periodic quarterly reports including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

3.                                       Oversee the external audit coverage. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is ultimately accountable to the Committee, which has the direct authority and responsibility to appoint, retain, compensate, terminate, select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent registered public accounting firm. In connection with its oversight of the external audit coverage, the Committee will have authority to:

 

·                   Appoint and replace (subject to stockholder approval, if deemed advisable by the Board) the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

·                   Approve the engagement letter and the fees to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

·                   Pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company and the related fees for such services other than prohibited nonauditing services as promulgated under rules and regulations of the SEC (subject to the inadvertent de minimus exceptions set forth in the Act and the SEC rules);

 

·                   Monitor and obtain confirmation and assurance as to the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence, including ensuring that they submit on a periodic basis (not less than annually) to the Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company consistent with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526. The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm and for taking appropriate action in response to the independent registered public accounting firm’s report to satisfy itself of their independence;

 

·                   At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing: the firm’s internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and to assess the independent registered public accounting firm independence, all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company;

 

·                   Meet with the independent registered public accounting firm prior to the annual audit to discuss planning and staffing of the audit;

 

·                   Review and evaluate the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm, as the basis for a decision to reappoint or replace the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

·                   Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm, including but not limited to, as required by all applicable laws and listing rules;

 

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·                   Set clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

 

·                   Assure regular rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit, as required by the Act, and consider whether rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm is required to ensure independence.

 

·                   Engage in a dialogue with the independent registered public accounting firm to confirm that audit partner compensation is consistent with applicable SEC rules;

 

·                   Review and discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the year-end audit of the Company, including any identified audit matters under AS 3101, any comments or recommendations of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and, based on such review and discussions and on such other considerations as it determines appropriate, recommend to the Board whether the Company’s audited financial statements should be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

·                   Take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

·                   Monitor compliance by the Company of the employee conflict of interest requirements contained in the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

4.                                       Oversee internal audit coverage. In connection with its oversight responsibilities, the Committee will:

 

·                   Review the appointment or replacement of the senior internal auditing executive;

 

·                   Review, in consultation with management, the independent auditors and the senior internal auditing executive, the plan and scope of internal audit activities, and, when deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee, assign additional internal audit projects to appropriate personnel;

 

·                   Review the Committee’s level of involvement and interaction with the Company’s internal audit function, if any, including the Committee’s line of authority and role in appointing and compensating employees in the internal audit function;

 

·                   Review internal audit activities, budget, compensation and staffing; and

 

·                   Review significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing department and management’s responses to such reports.

 

5.                                       Receive periodic reports from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, management and director of the Company’s internal auditing department to assess the impact on the Company of significant accounting or financial reporting developments that may have a bearing on the Company.

 

6.                                       Review with the independent registered public accounting firm and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls.

 

7.                                       Review with the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and independent registered public accounting firm, periodically, the following:

 

4



 

·                   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

·                   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

8.                                       Resolve any differences in financial reporting between management and the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

9.                                       Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

10.                                Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of reports of evidence of a material violation made by attorneys appearing and practicing before the SEC in the representation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or reports made by the Company’s chief executive officer in relation thereto.

 

11.                                Discuss policies and guidelines to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management is undertaken.

 

12.                                Meet periodically and at least four times per year with management to review and assess the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the manner in which such risks are being monitored and controlled.

 

13.                                Meet periodically (not less than annually) in separate executive session with each of the chief financial officer, the senior internal auditing executive, and the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

14.                                Review and approve all “related party transactions” requiring disclosure under SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404, in accordance with the policy set forth in Section 6 below.

 

15.                                Review the Company’s policies relating to the ethical handling of conflicts of interest and review past or proposed transactions between the Company and members of management as well as policies and procedures with respect to officers’ expense accounts and perquisites, including the use of corporate assets.  The Committee shall consider the results of any review of these policies and procedures by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

16.                                Review and approve in advance any services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Company’s executive officers or members of their immediate family.

 

17.                                Review the Company’s program to monitor compliance with the Company’s Code of Ethics, and meet periodically with the Company’s Compliance Committee to discuss compliance with the Code of Ethics.

 

18.                                Approve reimbursement of expenses incurred by management in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses.

 

19.                                Review periodically with the Company’s outside legal counsel (i) legal and regulatory matters which may have a material effect on the financial statements, and (ii) corporate compliance policies or codes of conduct.

 

20.                                As it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside legal, accounting or other advisers, the cost of such independent expert advisors to be borne by the Company.

 

21.                                Report regularly to the Board with respect to Committee activities.

 

22.                                Prepare the report of the Committee required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the proxy statement for each annual meeting.

 

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23.                                Review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.

 

24.                                Monitor compliance, on a regularly scheduled basis, with the terms of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) and, if any noncompliance is identified, immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise cause the Company to come into compliance with the terms of the Offering.

 

25.                                Review with management, the independent registered accounting firm, and the Company’s legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

 

26.                                Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

27.                                Determine the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.

 

28.                                On a quarterly basis, review and approve all payments made to the Company’s sponsor, VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, or the Company’s officers or directors or any of their respective affiliates.

 

5.                                       PROCEDURES

 

1.                                       Action .

 

A majority of the members of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members. However, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services, provided the decision is reported to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

2.                                       Fees .

 

The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation: (a) to outside legal, accounting or other advisors employed by the Committee; and (b) for ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

 

3.                                       Limitations .

 

While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP. This is the responsibility of management and the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

6.                                       RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS POLICY.

 

1.                                       Definitions.

 

A “ Related Party Transaction ” is any transaction directly or indirectly involving any Related Party that would need to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Under Item 404(a), the Company is required to disclose any transaction occurring since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, involving the Company where the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related Party Transaction” also includes any material amendment or modification to an existing Related Party Transaction.

 

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Related Party ” means any of the following:

 

·                   a director (which term when used herein includes any director nominee);

 

·                   an executive officer;

 

·                   a person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock (a “5% stockholder”); or

 

·                   a person known by the Company to be an immediate family member of any of the foregoing.

 

Immediate family member ” means a child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner.

 

2.                                       Identification of Potential Related Party Transactions.

 

Related Party Transactions will be brought to management’s and the Board’s attention in a number of ways. Each of the Company’s directors and executive officers shall inform the Chairman of the Committee of any potential Related Party Transactions. In addition, each such director and executive officer shall complete a questionnaire on an annual basis designed to elicit information about any potential Related Party Transactions.

 

Any potential Related Party Transactions that are brought to the Committee’s attention shall be analyzed by the Committee, in consultation with outside counsel or members of management, as appropriate, to determine whether the transaction or relationship does, in fact, constitute a Related Party Transaction requiring compliance with this Policy.

 

3.                                       Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions.

 

At each of its meetings, the Committee shall be provided with the details of each new, existing or proposed Related Party Transaction, including the terms of the transaction, any contractual restrictions that the Company has already committed to, the business purpose of the transaction, and the benefits to the Company and to the relevant Related Party. In determining whether to approve a Related Party Transaction, the Committee shall consider, among other factors, the following factors to the extent relevant to the Related Party Transaction:

 

·                   whether the terms of the Related Party Transaction are fair to the Company and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a Related Party;

 

·                   whether there are business reasons for the Company to enter into the Related Party Transaction;

 

·                   whether the Related Party Transaction would impair the independence of an outside director;

 

·                   whether the Related Party Transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer of the Company, taking into account the size of the transaction, the overall financial position of the director, executive officer or Related Party, the direct or indirect nature of the director’s, executive officer’s or Related Party’s interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Committee deems relevant; and

 

·                   any pre-existing contractual obligations.

 

Any member of the Committee who has an interest in the transaction under discussion shall abstain from voting on the approval of the Related Party Transaction, but may, if so requested by the Chairman of the Committee,

 

7



 

participate in some or all of the Committee’s discussions of the Related Party Transaction. Upon completion of its review of the transaction, the Committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the Related Party Transaction.

 

A Related Party Transaction entered into without pre-approval of the Committee shall not be deemed to violate this Policy, or be invalid or unenforceable, so long as the transaction is brought to the Committee as promptly as reasonably practical after it is entered into or after it becomes reasonably apparent that the transaction is covered by this Policy.

 

A Related Party Transaction entered into prior to the effective date of this Charter shall not be required to be reapproved by the Committee.

 

DATE:                   

 

8




Exhibit 99.2

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

CHARTER OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The following Compensation Committee Charter (the “ Charter ”) was adopted by the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) on the date indicated below.

 

1.                                       Members .  The Board shall appoint the members of the Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”).  The Committee shall be comprised of at least three “independent” directors of the Board who shall also satisfy such other criteria imposed on members of the Committee pursuant to the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”), the listing standards of any exchange or national listing market system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading (including, without limitation, the Nasdaq Capital Market) (the “ Principal Market ”), any other applicable laws or regulations, and any additional requirements that the Board deems appropriate.  The term “independent director” means a director who (i) meets the definition of “independence” under the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Principal Market, (ii) is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (c) is an “outside director” under the regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Each appointed member of the Committee may be removed by the Board at any time, with or without cause.  Unless the Board elects a Chair of the Committee, the Committee shall elect a Chair by majority vote.  Each Committee member shall have one vote.

 

2.                                       Purpose .  In addition to such other duties as may be assigned to the Committee by the Board from time to time, the purpose of the Committee is to represent and assist the Board in (a) discharging its responsibilities for approving and evaluating the officer compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company, (b) reviewing and recommending to the Board regarding compensation to be provided to the Company’s employees and directors, and (c) administering the equity compensation plans of the Company.  The Committee shall ensure that the Company’s compensation programs are competitive, designed to attract and retain highly qualified directors, officers and employees, encourage high performance, promote accountability and assure that employee interests are aligned with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

 

3.                                       Duties and Responsibilities .  The Committee shall, among its duties and responsibilities as may be delegated to the Committee by the Board, and in addition to any duties and responsibilities imparted to the Committee by the SEC or any applicable Principal Market or any other applicable laws or regulations:

 

(a)                                  Determine, in executive session at which the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “ CEO ”) is not present, the compensation (if any) for the Company’s CEO or President, if such person is acting as the CEO.

 

(b)                                  Review and determine the compensation of the executive officers of the Company other than the CEO based upon the recommendation of the CEO and such other customary factors that the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.

 

(c)                                   Recommend awards and/or bonuses to be granted to executive officers of the Company under the Company’s equity plans and other compensation or benefit plans or policies as approved by the Board or the Committee.

 

(d)                                  Approve the overall amount or percentage of plan and/or bonus awards to be granted to all Company employees and delegate to the Company’s executive management the right and power to specifically grant such awards to each Company employee within the aggregate limits and parameters set by the Committee.

 

(e)                                   Review and evaluate the performance of the CEO and the other executive officers of the Company.

 



 

(f)                                    Review and approve the design of other benefit plans pertaining to executives and employees of the Company.

 

(g)                                   Assist the Company’s management in complying with the Company’s proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements.

 

(h)                                  Produce a report on executive compensation to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement and approve such reports on compensation as are necessary for filing with the SEC and other government bodies.

 

(i)                                      Review, recommend to the Board, and administer all plans that require “disinterested administration” under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(j)                                     Approve the amendment or modification of any compensation or benefit plan pertaining to executives or employees of the Company that does not require stockholder approval.

 

(k)                                  Review, evaluate and recommend to the Board the adoption of or changes to the compensation of the Company’s directors.

 

(l)                                      Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation, and any incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to board approval of all of the Company’s other officers.

 

(m)                              Retain (at the Company’s expense) outside consultants and obtain assistance from members of management as the Committee deems appropriate in the exercise of its authority.

 

(n)                                  Make reports and recommendations to the Board within the scope of its functions and advise the officers of the Company regarding various personnel matters as may be raised with the Committee.

 

(o)                                  Approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s officers and employees.

 

(p)                                  Review the form, terms and provisions of employment and similar agreements with the Company’s executive officers and any amendments thereto.

 

(q)                                  To the extent the same has been adopted, review, at least annually, the compensation philosophy of the Company.

 

The powers and responsibilities delegated by the Board to the Committee in this Charter or otherwise shall be exercised and carried out by the Committee as it deems appropriate without requirement of Board approval, and any decision made by the Committee (including any decision to exercise or refrain from exercising any of the powers delegated to the Committee hereunder) shall be at the Committee’s sole discretion.  While acting within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it, the Committee shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Committee shall have the power to determine which matters are within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it.  To the extent that the Company’s securities are not listed or quoted on a Principal Market, the Committee shall determine which of the aforementioned duties and responsibilities it shall undertake or shall be applicable to the Committee.

 

4.                                       Meetings; Reports .  The Committee will meet as often as it deems necessary or appropriate, in its judgment, either in person or telephonically, and at such times and places as the Committee members determine.  Face to face meetings shall be encouraged at least twice each year.  The majority of the members of the Committee constitutes a quorum and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Committee.  Minutes will be kept of each meeting of the Committee.  The Chairman of the Committee shall report to the Board following meetings of the Committee and as otherwise requested by the Chairman of the Board.  The Committee shall also make reports and recommendations to the Board within the scope of its functions.

 

5.                                       Advisors . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment,

 

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compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other adviser retained by the Committee.  The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a compensation consultant, legal counsel or any other adviser retained by the Committee.

 

Before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the Committee shall consider the independence of each such adviser by taking into account the following factors and any other factors required by the Principal Market or the SEC and corresponding rules that may be amended from time to time, including any exceptions permitted by such rules:

 

(i)                                      the provision of other services to the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser (the “ Advisory Firm ”);

 

(ii)                                   the amount of fees received from the Company by the Advisory Firm, as a percentage of the total revenue of the Advisory Firm;

 

(iii)                                the policies and procedures of the Advisory Firm or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;

 

(iv)                               any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or adviser with a member of the Committee;

 

(v)                                  any stock of the Company owned by the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser; and

 

(vi)                               any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel, other adviser or the Advisory Firm with an executive officer of the Company.

 

6.                                       Review of Charter .  The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes thereto to the Board.

 

7.                                       Self-Assessment .  The Committee will annually evaluate the Committee’s own performance and report that it has done so to the Board.

 

8.                                       Delegation by Committee .  The Committee may delegate authority consistent with this Charter to one or more Committee members or subcommittees comprised of one or more Committee members when appropriate.  Any such member, members or subcommittee shall be subject to this Charter.  The decisions of any such member, members or subcommittees to which authority is delegated under this paragraph shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

9.                                       Amendment .  Any amendment or other modification of this Charter shall be made and approved by the full Board.

 

10.                                Disclosure of Charter .  If required by the rules of the SEC or any Principal Market, this Charter, as amended from time to time, shall be made available to the public on the Company’s website.

 

DATE:               

 

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