UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 12, 2015

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Cayman Islands   001-37516   N/A
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre 

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

86 (10) 8573 1453

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e 4(c))

 

 

 

 
 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On August 12, 2015, the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-204054) (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the initial public offering of 4,000,000 units (“Units”) of E-compass Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). On August 13, 2015, the Company announced the foregoing information in a press release.

 

Additionally, on August 12, 2015, the Company entered into such certain Underwriting Agreement and various other agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. The material terms of such agreements are fully described in the Company’s final prospectus, dated August 12, 2015, as filed with the SEC on August 13, 2015. This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed solely to file such executed agreements.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

   (d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit   Description
       
1.1   Underwriting Agreement between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as underwriter.
       
4.1   Rights Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.
       
10.1   Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.
       
10.2   Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company’s Initial Stockholders.
       
  10.3   Subscription Agreement between the Registrant, Graubard Miller and Lodestar Investment Holdings I LLC.
       
  10.4   Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and certain security holders of the Company.
       
99.1   Press Release, dated August 13, 2015.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 18, 2015

 

  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
   
By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

between

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.

 

and

 

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

 

Dated: August 12, 2015

 

 

 

 
 

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York

August 12, 2015

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue  

New York, New York 10022

 

Re: Public Offering of Securities

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, E-compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “ Company ”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “ Agreement ”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“ Cantor Fitzgerald ” or the “ Underwriter ”) as follows:

 

  1. Purchase and Sale of Securities .

 

  1.1 Firm Securities.

 

1.1.1         Purchase of Firm Units . On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 4,000,000 units (“ Firm Units ”) of the Company, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions and the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below) of $9.55 per Firm Unit; provided, however, that in the event that fewer than 2,000,000 Firm Units are purchased from the Underwriter by persons who were introduced to the Underwriter by the Company (as evidenced by the signature of an authorized person of both the Underwriter and the Company on Exhibit C hereto, which may be amended from time to time by signature of an authorized person of the Underwriter and the Company) (the “ Introduced Parties ”), the Underwriter shall be entitled to receive an additional amount equal to (i) (a) 2,000,000 minus (b) the number of Firm Units purchased by Introduced Parties, multiplied by (ii) $0.15 (the “ Additional Amount ”). The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (“ Offering ”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one ordinary share, $0.0001 par value, of the Company (“ Ordinary Shares ”), and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share (the “ Rights ”). The Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Firm Units will trade separately on the tenth (10th) Business Day (as defined below) following the earlier of (i) the date the Over-allotment Option expires, (ii) the date the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full, and (iii) the date that the Underwriter advises the Company of its decision not to exercise all or any remaining portion of the Over-allotment Option and to allow separate trading. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Firm Units trade separately until the Business Day after (i) the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the proceeds of the Offering, the Unit Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.5) and the Registered Unit Sale (as defined in Section 1.5) and updated financial information with respect to any proceeds the Company receives from the exercise of the Over-allotment Option if such option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company has filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K and issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each Right entitles its holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share upon consummation by the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses or entities, or entering into contractual arrangements that give the Company control over such a business or entity (the “ Business Combination ”).

 

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1.1.2         Payment and Delivery . Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third (3rd) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company, at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP (“ Loeb ”) or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “ Closing Date .” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date at the Underwriter’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $37,700,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units, less any Additional Amount, shall be deposited in the trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Shareholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof) (“ Trust Account ”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “ Trust Agreement ”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“ CST ”). The Underwriter shall place an aggregate of $600,000 ($0.15 per Firm Unit), payable to Cantor Fitzgerald as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, in the Trust Account. The remaining proceeds (less commissions and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement), if any, shall be paid (subject to Section 3.13 hereof) to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Underwriter of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”)) for the account of the Underwriter. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Underwriter to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery, at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any of the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “ Public Shareholders ” means the holders of the Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including any Company shareholder prior to the Offering to the extent they acquire such Ordinary Shares in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such Ordinary Shares). “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

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  1.2 Over-Allotment Option.

 

1.2.1         Option Units . The Underwriter is hereby granted an option (the “ Over-allotment Option ”) to purchase up to an additional 600,000 units (the “ Option Units ”), the net proceeds of which will be deposited in the Trust Account, for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. The Firm Units, the Option Units and the Underwriter’s Units (as defined in Section 1.4) are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Units ,” and the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights (the “ Right Shares ”) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Public Securities .” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Underwriter to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit will be the same price per Firm Unit set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof.

 

1.2.2         Exercise of Option . The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Underwriter as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the effective date (“ Effective Date ”) of the Registration Statement. The Underwriter will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Underwriter, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units (the “ Option Closing Date ”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time and in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter, at the offices of Loeb or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriter, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriter will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

1.2.3         Payment and Delivery . Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $9.55 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Underwriter of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriter. The Underwriter shall also place an aggregate of $0.45 per Option Unit (up to $270,000), payable to Cantor Fitzgerald, as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, in the Trust Account. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriter requests in writing not less than two full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Underwriter for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for applicable Option Units.

 

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1.3            Deferred Underwriting Commission . The Underwriter agrees that 1.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($600,000) and 4.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Units (up to $270,000) (the “ Deferred Underwriting Commission ”) will be deposited in and held in the Trust Account and shall be payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to Cantor Fitzgerald for its own account upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and CST, as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “ Trustee ”), commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Underwriter agrees that: (i) the Underwriter shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Shareholders.

 

  1.4 Underwriter’s Purchase Option .

 

1.4.1         Purchase Option . As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriter (and/or their designees) on the Effective Date an option (“ Underwriter’s Purchase Option ”) for the purchase of an aggregate of 300,000 Units (the “ Underwriter’s Units ”) for an aggregate purchase price of $100. The Underwriter’s Purchase Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing the later of (i) the closing of the Business Combination, or (ii) one year from the Effective Date, and expiring on the earlier of five years from the Effective Date and the day immediately prior to the day on which the Company and all of its successors have been dissolved, for cash or on a cashless basis, at an initial exercise price per Underwriter’s Unit of $10.00. The Underwriter’s Purchase Option, the Underwriter’s Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Underwriter’s Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Underwriter’s Securities .” The Underwriter understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions against transferring the Underwriter’s Purchase Option during the first six (6) months after the Effective Date, as set forth in the Underwriter’s Purchase Option.

 

1.4.2         Delivery and Payment . Delivery and payment for the Underwriter’s Purchase Option shall be made on the Closing Date. The Company shall deliver to the Underwriter and their designees upon payment therefor, certificates for the Underwriter’s Purchase Option in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request.

 

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  1.5 Issuances to Insiders.

 

1.5.1        The Company issued to certain of the members of the Company’s management team or their affiliates (the “ Insider Shareholders ”), for an aggregate consideration of $25,000, 1,150,000 Ordinary Shares (the “ Insider Shares ”) (up to 150,000 of which are subject to forfeiture to the extent the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in full) in a private placement (the “ Insider Private Placement ”) exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Insider Private Placement. Other than in a Permitted Transfer (as defined in Section 2.21.3 hereof), none of the Insider Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Insider Shareholders until: (i) with respect to 50% of the Insider Shares, the earlier of one year after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination and the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $13.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Business Combination; and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Insider Shares, one year after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination; or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to the Business Combination, the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. The Insider Shareholders shall have no right to any liquidation distributions with respect to any portion of the Insider Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination. The Insider Shareholders shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Insider Shares.

 

1.5.2        Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Insider Shareholders will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), 310,000 units that are identical to the Firm Units (the “ Placement Units ”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. The private placement of the Placement Units is referred to herein as the “ Unit Private Placement .” The Rights included in the Placement Units are referred to herein as the “ Placement Rights. ” The Placement Units, the Ordinary Shares and Placement Rights included in the Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Rights, are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Placement Securities. ” No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Placement Units sold in the Unit Private Placement. None of the Placement Securities may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Insider Shareholders (except to certain permitted transferees as set forth in the Subscription Agreement) until after consummation of a Business Combination.

 

1.5.3        Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Insider Shareholders will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement a number of units equal to (i) the Additional Amount plus the Shortfall (as defined below), divided by (ii) $10.00, which units will be identical to the Firm Units (the “ Registered Units ”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Registered Unit pursuant to the Registration Statement. The term “ Shortfall ” means an amount equal to (i) (a) 2,000,000 minus (b) the number of Firm Units purchased by Introduced Parties, multiplied by (ii) $0.40. The sale of the Registered Units is referred to herein as the “ Registered Unit Sale .” The Rights included in the Registration Units are referred to herein as the “ Registered Rights. ” The Registered Units, the Ordinary Shares and Registered Rights included in the Registered Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Registered Rights, are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Registered Securities. ” No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Registered Units sold in the Registered Unit Sale. None of the Registered Securities may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Insider Shareholders (except to certain permitted transferees as set forth in the Subscription Agreement) until after consummation of a Business Combination. The Public Securities, Underwriter’s Securities, the Placement Securities, the Registered Securities and the Insider Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Securities.

 

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1.5.4        The proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units and the Registered Units shall be deposited into the Trust Account. The Insider Shareholders shall have no right to any distribution upon the liquidation of the Trust Account or the liquidation of the Company with respect to any portion of the Ordinary Shares or the Rights included the Placement Units and the Registered Units in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.

 

  1.6 Working Capital; Interest on Trust.

 

1.6.1         Working Capital . Upon consummation of the Offering, initially $600,000 of the Offering proceeds will be released to the Company and held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.

 

1.6.2         Interest Income . Prior to the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, all interest earned on the Trust Account (after payment of, or reservation for, taxes owed on such interest income) may be released to the Company, from time to time, to fund its working capital and general corporate requirements, as more fully described in the Prospectus.

 

2.              Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriter as follows:

 

  2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1         Pursuant to the Act . The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-204054), including any related preliminary prospectus (“ Preliminary Prospectus ”), including any prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), for the registration of the Units under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “ Regulations ”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “ Registration Statement ,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “ Prospectus .” For purposes of this Agreement, “ Time of Sale ,” as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on July 24, 2015, for distribution by the Underwriter (such Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “ Sale Preliminary Prospectus ”). If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional securities of any type or an amendment to a Registration Statement (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “ Registration Statement ” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered for public sale under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered for public sale under the Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Underwriter has determined that at the Time of Sale, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and the Company and the Underwriter have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Sale Preliminary Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.

 

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2.1.2         Pursuant to the Exchange Act . The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 001-37516) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), of the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares and Rights under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof and the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.1.3         No Stop Orders, Etc . Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any federal, state or other regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

  2.2 Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.2.1         10b-5 Representation . At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the time of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus do and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Registration Statement, as of the effective date, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading. The Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not, include any 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 Sale Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale (or such subsequent Time of Sale pursuant to Section 2.1.1), did not include any 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. When any Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the Public Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.2.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriter by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriter consists solely of the names of the Underwriter, the information with respect to dealers’ concessions and reallowances contained in the section entitled “Underwriting – Pricing of Securities,” and the identity of counsel to the Underwriter contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information, collectively, the “ Underwriter’s Information ”).

 

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2.2.2         Disclosure of Agreements . The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or (ii) that is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, the performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

2.2.3         Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

2.2.4         Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, foreign, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

  2.3 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.3.1         No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company, (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) no member of the Company’s management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Board of Directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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2.3.2         Recent Securities Transactions . Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its equity securities.

 

2.4           Independent Accountants . To the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, UHY LLP (“ UHY ”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations. To the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, UHY is currently registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. UHY has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

  2.5 Financial Statements; Statistical Data.

 

2.5.1         Financial Statements . The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules (if any) included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X or Form 10 that have not been included as required.

 

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2.5.2         Statistical Data . The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data materially agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

2.6             Authorized Capital; Options . The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted share capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares or any security convertible into the Ordinary Shares, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell the Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

  2.7 Valid Issuance of Securities.

 

2.7.1         Outstanding Securities . All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities was issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized and outstanding Ordinary Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers and sales and any transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable foreign securities laws, state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

2.7.2         Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement . The Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, and with respect to the Ordinary Shares when such shares have been registered in the Company's register of members, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The form of certificates for the Securities conform to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation. The Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. When paid for and issued, the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Rights are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of such securities and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof such Ordinary Shares, and registered in the register of members of the Company, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

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2.7.3         Placement Units . The Placement Units constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Placement Units are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares and Rights underlying the Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights underlying the Private Units have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Placement Units and the Placement Rights, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

2.7.4         Registered Units . The Registered Units constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Registered Units are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares and Registered Rights underlying the Registered Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Registered Rights underlying the Registered Units have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Registered Units and the Registered Rights, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

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2.7.5         Over-allotment Option and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option . The Over-allotment Option and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Over-allotment Option and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Over-allotment Option and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of such securities and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof such Ordinary Shares, and registered in the register of members of the Company, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

2.7.6         No Integration . Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be or may be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities and Registered Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

2.8             Registration Rights of Third Parties . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

2.9             Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements . This Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Escrow Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.3), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.22.5) and the Subscription Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered, will constitute the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

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2.10           No Conflicts, Etc . The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Underwriter’s Purchase Option, and the Subscription Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject except pursuant to the Trust Agreement (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, of the Company; or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, business or assets constituted as of the date hereof.

 

2.11           No Defaults; Violations . No default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.

 

  2.12 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.12.1       Conduct of Business . The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with and in furtherance of this Offering. No governmental approvals are currently required in the Cayman Islands in order for the Company to pay dividends, interest attributable to shareholders’ equity or other distributions declared by the Company to the holders of the Securities, and, under current laws and regulations, any amounts payable with respect to the Securities (i) upon liquidation of the Company or upon redemption thereof and (ii) in the form of dividends or interest attributable to shareholders’ equity declared and payable on the Securities shall be paid by the Company in U.S. dollars and may be freely transferred out of the Cayman Islands; no such payments made to holders thereof or therein who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands are subject to income, withholding or other taxes under laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, and such payments will otherwise be free and clear of any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in the Cayman Islands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and without the necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the Cayman Islands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

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2.12.2       Transactions Contemplated Herein . The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Rights, the Escrow Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Underwriter’s Purchase Option, and the Subscription Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”).

 

2.12.3       Jurisdiction and Designation . The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 9.7 of this Agreement has, to the extent permitted by law, legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court, and has the power to designate, appoint and empower, and pursuant to Section 9.7 of this Agreement has legally, validly and effectively designated, appointed and empowered an agent for service of process in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement in any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York. To the Company’s knowledge, except as disclosed under the caption “Certain Differences in Corporate Law-Enforcement of civil liabilities” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any final judgment for a liquidated sum of money rendered by any U.S. federal or New York state court located in the State of New York having jurisdiction under its own laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement would be recognized and enforced against the Company by the courts of the Cayman Islands, without reconsideration or reexamination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the courts of the Cayman Islands, provided that such judgment (i) cannot be impeached on the ground of fraud, (ii) is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands, and (iii) is not in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or revenue obligations of the Company. To the Company’s knowledge, the choice of laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands and the courts of the Cayman Islands will observe and give effect to such choice of law.

 

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2.13           D&O Questionnaires . To the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, all information contained in the questionnaires (“ Questionnaires ”) completed by each of the Company’s shareholders, officers, directors and the Insider Shareholders (collectively, Insiders ”) and provided to the Underwriter and the biographies of the Insiders (to the extent a biography is included) contained in the Registration Statement, Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete.

 

2.14           Litigation; Governmental Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, threatened against or involving the Company or any Insider or any shareholder or member of an Insider that has not been disclosed or that is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Questionnaires.

 

2.15           Good Standing . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a company and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation. 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 business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

2.16           No Contemplation of a Business Combination . Prior to the date hereof, no Company Affiliate (as defined in Section 2.17.3) has, and as of the Closing, the Company and such Company Affiliates will not have: (a) had any specific Business Combination under consideration or contemplation; (b) directly or indirectly, contacted any potential operating assets, business or businesses that the Company may seek to consummate a Business Combination with (each, a “ Target Business ”) or any owner, officer, director, manager, agent or representative thereof or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to effecting any potential Business Combination with the Company or taken any measure, directly or indirectly to locate a Target Business; or (c) engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any Target Business for the Company.

 

  2.17 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.17.1       Finder’s Fees . There are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any Insider, that may affect the Underwriter’s compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.17.2       Payments Within Twelve Months . The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date, other than the prior payments to the Underwriter in connection with the Offering.

 

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2.17.3       FINRA Affiliation . No officer or director or any beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Underwriter and Loeb if it learns that any officer, director or owner of at least 5% of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares (or securities convertible into Ordinary Shares) (any such individual or entity, a “ Company Affiliate ”) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.

 

2.17.4       No Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market).

 

2.17.5       No Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA.

 

2.17.6       No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation), the Placement Units or the Registered Units, will be paid to any FINRA member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

2.17.7       The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.

 

2.17.8       No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA.

 

2.17.9       To the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “ conflict of interest ” exists when a member of FINRA and/or its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “ Members participating in the Offering ” include managing agents, syndicate group members and all dealers which are members of FINRA.

 

2.17.10    Except with respect to the Underwriter in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.

 

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  2.18 Taxes.

 

2.18.1      There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Cayman Islands law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision of the foregoing, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.

 

2.18.2      The Company has filed all non-U.S., U.S. federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof in a timely manner or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 2.5.1 above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.

 

2.18.3      Except for any income or franchise taxes imposed on the Underwriter by the Cayman Islands or the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein as a result of any present or former connection between the Underwriter and the jurisdiction imposing such tax, no value added tax will have to be charged by the Company and no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties and no capital gains, income, withholding or other taxes are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriter to the Cayman Islands or the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, in connection with (i) the issuance and authentication of the Public Securities; (ii) the sale of the Public Securities to the Underwriter in the manner contemplated herein; or (iii) the resale and delivery of such Public Securities by the Underwriter in the manner contemplated in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Assuming the Company satisfies the “start-up exception” (as described in the Registration Statement) to the “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and subject to the discussion of PFICs and other federal income tax issues set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation”, the Company will not be a PFIC for federal income tax purposes for its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2015.

 

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  2.19 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Anti-Money Laundering; Patriot Act

 

2.19.1       Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any of the Insiders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

2.19.2       Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act . The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar money laundering statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Federal governmental agency (collectively, the “ 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 Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, threatened.

 

2.19.3       OFAC . None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any of its Subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

2.19.4       Patriot Act . Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any Company Affiliate has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, or (ii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.

 

2.20           Officers’ Certificate . Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer or officers of the Company in connection with the Offering and delivered to the Underwriter or to Loeb shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

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  2.21 Agreements With Insiders.

 

2.21.1        Insider Letters . The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and enforceable agreements (except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or noncompete provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought), a form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Insider Letter ”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders of the Company agree to certain matters. The Insider Letters shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

2.21.2       Subscription Agreement . An affiliate of Richard Xu, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, has executed and delivered a subscription agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Subscription Agreement ”), pursuant to which such affiliate will, among other things, on the Closing Date, purchase and deliver the purchase price for the Placement Units purchased in the Unit Private Placement and the Registered Units purchased pursuant to the Registration Statement. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, (i) the affiliate has waived any and all rights and claims they may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Placement Securities and the Registered Securities, and (ii) the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units and Registered Units will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date.

 

2.21.3       Escrow Agreement . The Company has caused the Insider Shareholders to enter into an Escrow Agreement (the “ Escrow Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Insider Shares may not be released from escrow until (i) with respect to 50% of the Insider Shares, the earlier of one year after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination and the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $13.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Business Combination; and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Insider Shares, one year after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination; or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to the Business Combination, the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “ Escrow Period ”). During the Escrow Period, the Insider Shareholders shall be prohibited from selling or otherwise transferring such Insider Shares, except the Insider Shareholders shall retain the right to vote such Insider Shares and that the Insider Shareholders shall be permitted to make Permitted Transfers. As used herein, “ Permitted Transfers ” refer to (a) transfers (i) if the Initial Shareholder is an entity, as a distribution to partners, members or stockholders of the Initial Shareholder upon the liquidation and dissolution of the Initial Shareholder, (ii) by bona fide gift to a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Initial Shareholder or a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Initial Shareholder, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities, (vi) by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased, or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case, except for clause (vii), on the condition that such transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter signed by the Initial Shareholder transferring the Escrow Shares.

 

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2.21.4       No Fiduciary Relationship in Pricing . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction pursuant to a contractual relationship between the Company and the Underwriter, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriter act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriter may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of this offering of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof and (v) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Underwriter hereby expressly disclaims any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. The Company and the Underwriter agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgment with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriter to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

2.21.5       Registration Rights Agreement . The Company and the Insider Shareholders have entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (“ Registration Rights Agreement ”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the securities they hold or may hold, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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2.22           Investment Management Trust Agreement . The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering, the Unit Private Placement and the Registered Unit Sale substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

2.23           Rights Agreement . The Company has entered into a rights agreement with respect to the Rights underlying the Units, the Placement Units and the Registered Units with CST substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“ Rights Agreement ”).

 

2.24           No Existing Non-Competition Agreements . No Insider is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be an employee, officer and/or director of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement. No officer or director of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could materially affect each respective director’s or officer’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or officer of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

2.25           Investments . No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“ Investment Company Act ”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) or money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act.

 

2.26           Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.

 

2.27           Subsidiaries . The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.

 

2.28           Related Party Transactions . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the one hand, and any director, officer, shareholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.

 

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2.29           No Influence . The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriter to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

2.30           Sarbanes-Oxley . The Company is, or on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules or regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.

 

2.31           Distribution of Offering Material by the Company . The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriter’s distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case as supplemented and amended.

 

2.32           NASDAQ . The Public Securities have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the NASDAQ Capital Market, and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.

 

2.33           Board of Directors . As of the Effective Date, the Board of Directors of the Company will be comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” As of the Effective Date, the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board will comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market that are, in each case, applicable to the Company. As of the Effective Date, the Company will have an Audit Committee that satisfies the applicable requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

2.34           Emerging Growth Company . From its formation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).

 

2.35           Introduced Party Restrictions . Each Introduced Party has entered into a letter agreement pursuant to which such investor has agreed to receive only $10.00 per Ordinary Share (as opposed to the $10.40 per Ordinary Share the other holders of publicly traded Ordinary Shares would receive) pursuant to any election to redeem in connection with a Business Combination or if the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the time period required by its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and is forced to liquidate.

 

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  3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1            Amendments to Registration Statement . The Company will deliver to the Underwriter, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and the Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter shall reasonably object in writing.

 

  3.2 Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1         Compliance . During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Underwriter promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.

 

3.2.2         Filing of Final Prospectus . The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.

 

3.2.3         Exchange Act Registration . The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Public Securities under the provisions of the Exchange Act (except in connection with a going-private transaction) for a period of five years from the Effective Date, or until the Company is required to be liquidated or is acquired, if earlier, or, in the case of the Rights, until the consummation of a Business Combination. The Company will not deregister the Public Securities under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.

 

3.2.4         Exchange Act Filings . From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or its liquidation and dissolution, the Company shall timely file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“ EDGAR ”) such statements and reports as are required to be filed by a company registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

3.2.5         Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance . As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

 

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3.3             Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters . The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405, without the prior consent of the Underwriter. The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act. “ Written Testing-the-Waters Communications ” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

3.4             Delivery to Underwriter of Prospectuses . The Company will deliver to the Underwriter, without charge and from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Underwriter, upon its request, two manually executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all manually executed consents of certified experts.

 

3.5             Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Underwriter . The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Underwriter immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in Section 3.5 hereof that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

 

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  3.6 Affiliated Transactions.

 

3.6.1         Business Combinations . The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter that the Business Combination is fair to the Company’s shareholders from a financial perspective. No Insider or any affiliate of an Insider shall receive any fees of any type (other than reimbursement of ordinary and customary expenses incurred on behalf of the Company) in connection with any Business Combination.

 

3.6.2         Compensation to Insiders . Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company shall not pay any of the Insiders or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided that the Insiders shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with seeking and consummating a Business Combination.

 

3.7           Financial Public Relations Firm . Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter for a term to be agreed on by the Company and the Underwriter.

 

  3.8 Reports to the Underwriter.

 

3.8.1         Periodic Reports, Etc . For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Underwriter (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission, (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs that was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each current Report on Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, (iv) two (2) copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act, and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Underwriter shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter and its counsel in connection with the Underwriter’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to this Section.

 

3.9             Filings with the Commission on Domestic Forms . After the Effective Date and until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall file all required periodic and current reports with the Commission as a domestic filer, using the forms that are required to be used by domestic issuers.

 

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3.10           Payment of Expenses . The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at Closing, all Company expenses incidental to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements, (ii) the preparation, printing, filing, mailing and delivery (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including any pre or post effective amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriter in quantities as may be required by the Underwriter, (iii) fees incurred in connection with conducting background checks of the Company’s management team, up to $6,000 per person, (iv) the preparation, printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Units, and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA, including the reasonable fees of counsel to the Underwriter not to exceed $15,000, (vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing the Securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market or such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Underwriter together determine, (vii) all fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (viii) all of the Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence” and “road show” meetings arranged by the Underwriter and any presentations made available by way of a road show, including, without limitation, trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management; (ix) and certain other costs incurred by the Underwriter in connection with the Offering in the aggregate not to exceed $20,000, including but not limited to, the expenses incurred by the Underwriter in connection with “road show” meetings or any presentations made available by way of a road show and the preparation, binding and delivery of bound transaction “bibles,” in quantities and form and style reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter and Lucite cube mementos in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request; (x) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.10. In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the provisions of Section 8.3 hereof shall apply.

 

3.11           Application of Net Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering, Unit Private Placement and Registered Unit Sale received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

3.12           Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders . The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.

 

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  3.13 Notice to FINRA.

 

3.13.1        Notice to FINRA . For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged, in writing, to assist the Company in its search for a Target Business (as defined below) or to provide any other services in connection therewith, the Company will provide the following to FINRA and the Underwriter prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual. The Company also agrees that, if required by law, proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer documents or proxy statement which the Company will file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination.

 

3.13.2        FINRA . The Company shall advise the Underwriter (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Public Securities.

 

3.13.3        Broker/Dealer . In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.

 

3.14          Stabilization . Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Underwriter) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

3.15          Existing Lock-Up Agreement . The Company will enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Securities in connection with the Offering. In addition, the Company will direct the Transfer Agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such Securities of the Company that are bound by such existing “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements.

 

3.16          Payment of Deferred Underwriting Commission on Business Combination . Upon the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company agrees that it will cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust Account to the Underwriter, in accordance with Section 1.3.

 

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3.17          Internal Controls . The Company will maintain 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.

 

3.18          Accountants . Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain UHY or another independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter.

 

3.19          Form 8-K . The Company shall, on or prior to the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (“ Audited Financial Statements ”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering, the Unit Private Placement and the Registered Unit Sale. Within four business days after the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Financial Statements. Promptly after the Option Closing Date, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised after the Closing Date, the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8K or an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of such option.

 

3.20          Corporate Proceedings . All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction to Loeb.

 

3.21          Investment Company . The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills 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 as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.

 

3.22          Amendments to Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association .

 

3.22.1        The Company covenants and agrees, that prior to its initial Business Combination it will not seek to amend or modify its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, including, but not limited to Article 48 of its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, except as set forth in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.

 

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3.22.2      The Company acknowledges that the purchasers of the Public Securities in the Offering shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and specifically this Section 3.22.

 

3.23         Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Underwriter’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press releases or engaging in any other publicity required by law.

 

3.24         Insurance . The Company will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance (including insurance covering the Company, its directors and officers for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws).

 

3.25         Electronic Prospectus . The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriter, at the Company’s expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriter in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “ Electronic Prospectus ” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Underwriter, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriter to offerees and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Underwriter, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time).

 

3.26         Unit Private Placement and Registered Unit Sale Proceeds . On or prior to the Effective Date, the Company shall have deposited the proceeds from the Unit Private Placement and the maximum amount of proceeds pursuant to the Registered Unit Sale in the Trust Account or to a separate escrow account maintained by Graubard Miller, counsel to the Company, who will transfer the applicable amount to the Trust Account on the Closing Date and shall provide the Underwriter with evidence of the same. The Unit Private Placement and the Registered Unit Sale shall be consummated on the Closing Date.

 

3.27         Future Financings . The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to 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.

 

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3.28          Amendments to Agreements . The Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Rights Agreement, Escrow Agreement, Trust Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, Subscription Agreement or any Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

3.29          NASDAQ . Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market or a national securities exchange acceptable to the Underwriter.

 

3.30          Reservation of Shares . The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Placement Rights, the Registered Rights and the Underwriter’s Purchase Option outstanding from time to time.

 

4.              Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations . The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

 

  4.1 Regulatory Matters .

 

4.1.1         Effectiveness of Registration Statement . The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Underwriter, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of Loeb.

 

4.1.2         FINRA Clearance . By the Effective Date, the Underwriter shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriter as described in the Registration Statement.

 

4.1.3         No Blue Sky Stop Orders . No order suspending the sale of the Units in any jurisdiction designated by the Underwriter pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof shall have been issued on either of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, shall be contemplated.

 

4.1.4         No Commission Stop Order . At the Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

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4.1.5         NASDAQ . The Securities shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Underwriter.

 

  4.2 Company Counsel Matters .

 

4.2.1         Closing Date and Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel . On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance statement of each of Maples and Calder and Graubard Miller, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter and Loeb.

 

4.2.2         Reliance . In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriter’s counsel if requested. The opinions of counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriter in its opinion delivered to the Underwriter.

 

4.3           Comfort Letter . At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received a letter, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to the Underwriter and to Loeb from UHY dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:

 

(i)             Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act;

 

(ii)            Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;

 

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(iii)           Stating that, on the basis of their review, which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and Board of Directors and the various committees of the Board of Directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (b) at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the November 3, 2014 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from November 3, 2014 to a specified date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in revenues, net earnings or net earnings per Ordinary Share, in each case as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year and as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding quarter, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;

 

(iv)           Setting forth, at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company (including a break-down of commercial papers and notes payable to banks);

 

(v)           Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and

 

(vi)          Stating that they have not, since the Company’s incorporation, brought to the attention of the Company’s management any reportable condition related to internal structure, design or operation as defined in the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 60 “Communication of Internal Control Structure Related Matters Noted in an Audit,” in the Company’s internal controls.

 

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  4.4 Officers’ Certificates .

 

4.4.1         Officers’ Certificate . At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company (in their capacities as such), dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4.4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Underwriter will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company (in their capacities as such) as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

 

4.4.2         Secretary’s Certificate . At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect, (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

4.5             No Material Changes . Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal, foreign or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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4.6            Delivery of Agreements . On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Underwriter executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreements, the Escrow Agreement, the Underwriter’s Purchase Option and all of the Insider Letters.

 

4.7             Insider Sales . On the Closing Date, the Insider Private Placement, the Unit Private Placement and the Registered Unit Sale shall have been completed in accordance with Sections 1.5 and 3.26 of this Agreement.

 

  5. Indemnification .

 

  5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriter .

 

5.1.1         General . Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and its affiliates, and each dealer selected by the Underwriter that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a “ Selected Dealer ”) and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees and each person, if any, who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act (“ Controlling Person ”) the Underwriter, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever as incurred to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented, including, but not limited to any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C); (ii) 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 Securities, including any “ road show ” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “ application ”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any foreign or state securities commission or agency, the NYSE, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or the OTCBB or (iv) any post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or new Registration Statement or Prospectus filed by the Company with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, OTCBB or any securities exchange, or the omission or alleged omission from the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or subsequent filing by the Company under clause (iv) of 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, and to reimburse each Underwriter, each Selected Dealer and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees and each Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter) as such expenses are incurred by the Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees or such Controlling Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action, whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action and including any and all legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, in the jurisdictions listed in the section entitled “Notices to Non-U.S. Investors” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, as the case may be; (y) the use of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in violation of any stop order or other notice received by the Underwriter indicating the then current Prospectus is not to be used in connection with the sale of any Securities or (z) the Underwriter otherwise failing in its prospectus delivery obligations. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.1 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

 

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5.2             Indemnification of the Company . The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers who signed the Registration Statement and each Controlling Person of the Company, if any, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any such application, and to reimburse the Company or any such director, officer or Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred, in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the obligation of each Underwriter to indemnify the Company (including any director, officer or Controlling Person thereof), shall be limited to the amount of commissions actually received by the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the Securities underwritten by it. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriter has furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, shall consist solely of the Underwriter’s Information. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.2 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriter may otherwise have.

 

5.3             Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided , however, (a) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (b) the indemnifying party agrees to such separate representation, then, in each case, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the provision to the preceding sentence reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Underwriter in the case of Section 5.2), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel (plus local counsel) shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

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5.4             Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be withheld, delayed or conditioned unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 5.3 hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y) 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.

 

  5.5 Contribution .

 

5.5.1         Contribution Rights . In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, the Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportion as is represented by the percentage of the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus as compared to the offering price per Unit and the Company shall be responsible for the balance; provided , that , no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) with respect to any action or claim shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation with respect to such action or claim. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriter shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriter in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Underwriter 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 furnished by the Company or the Underwriter and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.5.1, the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the underwriting commissions actually received by the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer, agent, partner, member and employee of the Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.

 

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5.5.2         Contribution Procedure . Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“ Contributing Party ”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such Contributing Party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriter’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.5 are several and not joint.

 

  6. Additional Covenants .

 

6.1             Additional Shares or Options . The Company hereby agrees that until the consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Ordinary Shares, or any shares of preferred shares or other securities of the Company which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Ordinary Shares on a Business Combination.

 

6.2             Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments . The Company hereby agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any prospective Target Business or prior to obtaining the services of any vendor to have such Target Business or vendor acknowledge in writing whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $40,800,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for a portion of 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 Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their IPO Shares (as defined below) in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Shareholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the Closing Date, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (i) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (ii) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (“ Claim ”) and 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. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B respectively. The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its Chief Executive Officer and the approving vote or written consent of at least a majority of its Board of Directors. The term “ IPO Shares ” means the Ordinary Shares contained in the Public Securities.

 

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6.3             Insider Letters . The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

6.4             Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association . The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended.

 

6.5             Intentionally Omitted .

 

6.6             Rule 419 . The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the 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.

 

6.7             Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information . The Company shall provide to the Underwriter or its counsel (if so instructed by the Underwriter) with 10 copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material filed with the commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the commission. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been provided to the Underwriter pursuant to this Section. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which its initial public offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.

 

6.8             Emerging Growth Company . The Company shall promptly notify the

 

Underwriter if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Act and (b) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 1.5 hereof.

 

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6.9             Target Net Assets . The Company agrees that the Target Business that it acquires 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 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 reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. The Company is not required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm 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, provided that the Target Business is not affiliated with an Insider. The purchase price of the Target Business may be funded through any mix of cash, stock or debt financing.

 

7.            Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriter and the Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, the Company or any Controlling Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the Underwriter until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

8.            Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof .

 

8.1             Effective Date . This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

8.2             Termination . The Underwriter shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Underwriter’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, or the NASDAQ Capital Market or quoted on the OTCBB shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in existing major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or Federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Underwriter’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Underwriter shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Underwriter’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriter for the sale of the Public Securities.

 

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8.3           Expenses . In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall (i) reimburse the Underwriter for the full amount of its actual accountable out of pocket expenses incurred to such date (which shall include, but shall not be limited to, all reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel, mailing, printing and reproduction expense and any expenses incurred by the Underwriter in conducting its due diligence), less amounts previously paid pursuant to Section 3.10, (ii) reimburse the Underwriter for the full amount of background checks of the Company’s officers and directors (not to exceed $6,000 per person), travel, lodging and road show expenses actually incurred to such date, less the amounts previously paid to the Underwriter as an advance and in reimbursement for such expenses, and (iii) reimburse the Underwriter for any costs and expenses up to $75,000 incurred in connection with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement upon a final judgment in favor of the Underwriter by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal or not appealed by the Company).

 

8.4          Indemnification . Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

  9. Miscellaneous .

 

9.1           Notices . All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.

 

If to the Underwriter:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (212) 829-4708

 

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Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Investment Banking Department

Facsimile: (212) 829-4708

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 504-3013

 

If to the Company:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile:

 

or

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: Jeffrey M. Gallant

Facsimile: (212) 818-8881

 

9.2            Headings . The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

9.3            Amendment . This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

9.4            Entire Agreement . This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

42
 

 

9.5            Binding Effect . This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Underwriter, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors, agents, partners, members, employees and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from the Underwriter. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the sale and issuance of the securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Underwriter; (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to the Offering, the Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company; (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed a fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering or the process leading thereto, including any negotiation related to the pricing of the securities; and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering.

 

9.6            Waiver of Immunity . To the extent that the Company may be entitled in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced hereunder, to claim for itself or its revenues or assets any immunity, including sovereign immunity, from suit, jurisdiction, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment or prior to a judgment, execution of a judgment or any other legal process with respect to its obligations hereunder and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to the Company such an immunity (whether or not claimed), the Company hereby irrevocably agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

9.7            Submission to Jurisdiction . The Company irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or the offering of the Securities. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. In connection with this Agreement, the Company has irrevocably appointed Graubard Miller, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and the Company agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company by the person serving the same to Graubard Miller, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriter in any competent court.

 

43
 

 

9.8            Governing Law . 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.

 

9.9            Execution in Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

9.10          Waiver . The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

44
 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriter and the Company, Please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
  Name: Richard Xu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted on the date first
above written.

 

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.  
     
By: /s/ James Bond  
Name: James Bond  
Title: COO  

  

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 

45
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF TARGET BUSINESS LETTER

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of E-compass Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated ______________, 2015 (the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $40,800,000 for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and the Underwriter of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Underwriter ”) and that, except for a portion of 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 Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Shareholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of 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  

 

A-1
 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF VENDOR LETTER

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of E-compass Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated_________________, 2015 (the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $40,800,000 for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and the Underwriter of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Underwriter ”) and that, except for a portion of 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 Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Shareholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to engage 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  

 

B-1
 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

INTRODUCED PARTIES

 

Shenwan Hongyuan Securities Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

C-1

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Agreement made as of August 12, 2015 between E-compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, with offices at 6F/Tower, 2 West Proper Centre, No.5, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, P.R. China (“Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004 (“Right Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (“Public Offering”) and has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-204054 (“Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of its units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”), and one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share upon the happening of the triggering event described herein and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to 4,600,000 rights (“Public Rights”) to the investors in the Public Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received binding commitments from an affiliate (the “Affiliate”) of Richard Xu, the Company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to purchase in a private placement (“Private Offering”) up to an aggregate of 310,000 Units, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 310,000 rights (“Private Rights”) upon consummation of such Private Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received binding commitments from the Affiliate to purchase from the Company at a price of $10.00 per unit an additional number of Units upon the happening of certain events as described in the Registration Statement, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver additional rights (“Commission Rights” and together with the Public Rights and Private Rights, the “Rights”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Right Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Right Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer and exchange of the Rights; and

 

 
 

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Rights, the terms upon which they shall be issued, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Right Agent, and the holders of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Rights, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Right 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 Right Agent . The Company hereby appoints the Right Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Rights, and the Right Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.             Rights .

 

2.1.           Form of Right . Each Right shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right 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.

 

2.2.           Effect of Countersignature . Unless and until countersigned by the Right Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Right shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exchanged for Ordinary Shares.

 

2
 

 

2.3.           Registration .

 

2.3.1.           Right Register . The Right Agent shall maintain books (“Right Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Right Agent shall issue and register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Right Agent by the Company.

 

2.3.2.           Registered Holder . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Right, the Company and the Right Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Right shall be registered upon the Right Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Right and of each Right represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Right Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Right Agent), for the purpose of the exchange thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Right Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

2.4.           Detachability of Rights . The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until ten business days following the earlier to occur of: (i) the expiration of the underwriters’ overallotment option, (ii) its exercise in full or (iii) the announcement by the underwriters of their intention not to exercise all or any remaining portion of the over-allotment option, except that in no event will the securities comprising the Units be separately tradeable until the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date thereof, and (ii) the Company issues a press release and files a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

3
 

 

3.            Terms and Exchange of Rights

 

3.1.           Rights . Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share upon the happening of an Exchange Event (described below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its Ordinary Shares upon an Exchange Event as the purchase price for such Ordinary Shares has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. Each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its Rights in order to receive the 1/10 of a share underlying each right (without paying any additional consideration) upon consummation of the Exchange Event. Each holder of a Right will be required to indicate his, her or its election to convert the Rights into the underlying shares as well as to return the original certificates evidencing the Rights to the Company.

 

3.2.           Exchange Event . An Exchange Event shall occur upon the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association).

 

3.3.           Exchange of Rights .

 

3.3.1.           Issuance of Certificates . As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of an Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights certificates to the Right Agent. Upon receipt of a valid Rights certificate, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) a certificate or certificates for the full number of Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Rights Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of an Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Right Agent to round down to the nearest whole Ordinary Share.

 

3.3.2.           Valid Issuance . All Ordinary shares issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement, and registered on the Company’s register of members, shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3.3.3.           Date of Issuance . Each person in whose name any such certificate for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date that he is registered on the Company’s register of members.

 

4
 

 

3.3.4           Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event . Upon an Exchange Event in which the Company does not continue as the publicly held reporting entity, the definitive agreement with the target business for a Business Combination will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the Ordinary Shares will receive in such transaction, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.1 above.

 

3.5           Duration of Rights . If an Exchange Event does not occur within 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless.

 

4.            Transfer and Exchange of Rights .

 

4.1.           Registration of Transfer . The Right Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Right upon the Right Register, upon surrender of such Right for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Right certificate representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right certificate shall be cancelled by the Right Agent. The Right certificate(s) so cancelled shall be delivered by the Right Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

4.2.           Procedure for Surrender of Rights . Rights may be surrendered to the Right Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Right Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Right certificate(s) as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Right Agent shall not cancel such Right certificate and issue new Right certificate(s) in exchange therefor until the Right Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Right certificate(s) must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

4.3.           Fractional Rights . The Right Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Right certificate for a fraction of a Right.

 

5
 

 

4.4.           Service Charges . No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.

 

4.5.           Adjustments to Conversion Ratios . The number of Ordinary Shares that the holders of Rights are entitled to receive as a result of the occurrence of an Exchange Event shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the Ordinary Shares occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Exchange Event.

 

4.6           Right Execution and Countersignature . The Right Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required by the Right Agent, will supply the Right Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.            Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights .

 

5.1.           No Rights as Shareholder . Until exchange of a Right for Ordinary Shares as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder 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 shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

5.2.           Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Right Certificate(s). If any Right certificate(s) is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Right Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Right certificate, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right certificate of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right certificate so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right certificate shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

6
 

 

5.3.           Reservation of Ordinary Shares . The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.            Concerning the Right Agent and Other Matters .

 

6.1.           Payment of Taxes . The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Right Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares.

 

6.2.           Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Right Agent .

 

6.2.1.           Appointment of Successor Right Agent . The Right 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 Right Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Right Agent in place of the Right Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Right Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Right Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Right 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 Right Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Right Agent with like effect as if originally named as Right Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Right Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Right Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Right Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Right 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 Right Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

7
 

 

6.2.2.           Notice of Successor Right Agent . In the event a successor Right Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Right Agent and the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

6.2.3.           Merger or Consolidation of Right Agent . Any corporation into which the Right Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Right Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Right Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

6.3.           Fees and Expenses of Right Agent .

 

6.3.1.           Remuneration . The Company agrees to pay the Right Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Right Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Right Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Right Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

6.3.2.           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 Right Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.4.           Liability of Right Agent .

 

6.4.1.           Reliance on Company Statement . Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Right Agreement, the Right Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or 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 President, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Right Agent. The Right 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
 

 

6.4.2.           Indemnity . The Right Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Right Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Right Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Right Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.

 

6.4.3.           Exclusions . The Right Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Right (except its counter signature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

6.5.           Acceptance of Agency . The Right Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

 

6.6           Waiver . The Right Agent hereby waives any 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 Right 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.

 

7.            Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

7.1.           Successors . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Right Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

9
 

 

7.2.           Notices . Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Right Agreement to be given or made by the Right Agent or by the holder of any Right 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 days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Right Agent), as follows:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

Attn: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Right or by the Company to or on the Right 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 days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Right Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Robert E. McMonagle

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) in each case to:

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

 

and

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.

 

and

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel and Investment Banking Department

Facsimile: (212) 829-4708

 

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7.3.           Applicable Law . The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by 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 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 inconvenience forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.

 

7.4.           Persons Having Rights under this Agreement . Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, Cantor Fitzgerald, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Right Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. Cantor Fitzgerald shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Right Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and Cantor Fitzgerald with respect to the Sections 3, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.

 

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7.5.           Examination of the Right Agreement . A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Right Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Right Agent may require any such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it.

 

7.6.           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.

 

7.7.           Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Right Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

7.8           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 of 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 shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of (i) a majority of the then outstanding Public Rights (other than rights held by the “lead investors” (as defined in the Registration Statement)), and (ii) a majority of the then outstanding Public Rights held by the lead investors. The provisions of this Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of Cantor Fitzgerald.

 

7.9           Severability . This Right 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 Right 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 Right Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
  & TRUST COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Robert E. McMonagle
    Name: Robert E. McMonagle
    Title:   Vice President

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made as of August 12, 2015 by and between E-compass Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-204054 (“Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering of securities (“IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (“Effective Date”) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement); and

 

WHEREAS, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor Fitzgerald”) is acting as the underwriter in the IPO; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, $37,700,000 of the gross proceeds of the IPO ($43,700,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the net proceeds of a private placement of $3,100,000 taking place simultaneously therewith will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a trust account for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); 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;

 

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 a segregated trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Trustee at JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA in the United States, maintained by Trustee, 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 instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property (i) in United States government treasury bills, notes or bonds having a maturity of 180 days or less and/or (ii) in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries, as determined by the Company;

 

 
 

 

(d)           Collect and receive, when due, all principal and income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e)           Notify the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald of all communications received by it with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f)           Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company in connection with the Company’s preparation of its tax returns;

 

(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; and

 

(i)           Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, signed on behalf of the Company by its President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board and Secretary or Assistant Secretary, affirmed by counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by Cantor Fitzgerald, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee by the 18-month anniversary of the closing of the IPO (“Last Date”), the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Shareholders as of the Last Date. The provisions of this Section 1(i) may not be modified, amended or deleted under any circumstances.

 

2.            Limited Distributions of Income from Trust Account .

 

(a)           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, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of such interest income.

 

(b)           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 Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover expenses related to investigating and selecting a target business and other working capital requirements; provided, however, that the Company will not be allowed to withdraw interest income earned on the Trust A ccount unless there is an amount of interest income available in the Trust Account sufficient to pay the Company’s tax obligations on such interest income.

 

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(c)           The limited distributions referred to in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) above shall be made only from income collected on the Property. Except as provided in Section 2(a), and 2(b) above, no other distributions from the Trust Account shall be permitted except in accordance with Section 1(i) hereof.

 

(d)           The Company shall provide Cantor Fitzgerald with a copy of any Termination Letters and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance.

 

3.            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, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer. In addition, except with respect to its duties under paragraphs 1(i), 2(a) and 2(b) above, 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 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 the provisions of Sections 5 and 7(g) of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against, any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, 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 income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence 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 paragraph, 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. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

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(c)           Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, 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 and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee from the disbursements made to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) solely in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, or pursuant to Section 2(b). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first year’s fee at the consummation of the IPO and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date;

 

(d)           In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding such Business Combination; and

 

(e)           In the event that the Company directs the Trustee to commence liquidation of the Trust Account pursuant to Section 1(i), the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement.

 

4.            Limitations of Liability . The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a)           Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(b)           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;

 

(c)           Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with paragraph 1(c);

 

(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 exercise of its own best judgment, except for its gross negligence 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), 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 is believed by the Trustee, in good faith, 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;

 

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(g)           Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any acquisition made by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and

 

(h)           File local, state and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account and payee statements with the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property.

 

(i)           Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 2(a) hereof).

 

(j)           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.

 

(k)           Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve Company requests for distributions pursuant to Section 1(i), 2(a) or 2(b) above.

 

5.            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 3(b) or Section 3(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.

 

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6.            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 during which time the Trustee shall act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company 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 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 in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(i) hereof, and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Paragraph 3(b).

 

7.            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 information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will 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. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the wire.

 

(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. It 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. Except for Section 1(i) (which may not be amended under any circumstances), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of Cantor Fitzgerald. As to any claim, cross-claim or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

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(d)           The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.

 

(e)           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 transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Steven G. Nelson, Chairman, and Frank A. DiPaolo, CFO

Fax No.: (212) 509-5150

 

if to the Company, to:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

Attn: Richard Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Fax No.: (___) ___-____

 

in either case with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel and Investment Banking Department

Facsimile: (212) 829-4708

 

and

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.

Fax No.: (212) 407-4990

 

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(f)           This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

 

(g)           Each of the Trustee and the Company 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.

 

(h)           Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that Cantor Fitzgerald is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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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: /s/ Frank A. Di Paolo
  Name: Frank A. Di Paolo
  Title: Trust Officer

 

  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
  Name: Richard Xu
  Title: CEO

 

9
 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item Time and method of payment Amount
Initial acceptance fee Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer $2,000
Annual fee First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check $10,000
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2 Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under Section 2 $250
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to section 1(i) Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to section 1(i)

 

Prevailing rates

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

  [Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

   & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Steven Nelson and Frank DiPaolo

 

Re:            Trust Account No. XXXXXXXXXX - Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between E-compass Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of August 12, 2015 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [__________________] (“Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date] . The Company shall notify you at least 48 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined 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 the Trust Account investments on [__________] and to transfer the proceeds to the above-referenced account at [ ] to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of 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 account 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 and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] of [__________________], which verifies the vote of the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel's letter 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 of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

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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 the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:
    Richard Xu, Chairman of the Board
     
  By:
    Chen Liu, President

 

AGREED TO AND  
ACKNOWLEDGED BY  
     
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.  

 

By:  

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

  [Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

   & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Steven Nelson and Frank DiPaolo

 

Re:            Trust Account No. XXXXXXXX - Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between E-compass Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of August 12, 2015 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Company within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its IPO. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined 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 the Trust Account investments on [______________] and to transfer the total proceeds to the Trust Checking Account at [ ] to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [____________, 20__] as the record date for the purpose of determining the Public Shareholders entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the Trust Checking Account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, to distribute said funds directly to the Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:
    Richard Xu, Chairman of the Board
     
  By:
    Chen Liu, President

 

cc: Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

   & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Frank Di Paolo and Cynthia Jordan

 

Re:            Trust Account No. XXXXXXXX

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between E-compass Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of August 12, 2015 (“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. The Company needs such funds to pay for its tax obligations as a result of such interest income. 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]

 

  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:
    Richard Xu, Chairman of the Board
     
  By:
    Chen Liu, President

 

cc: Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

 

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EXHIBIT D

 

 

 [Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

   & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Frank Di Paolo and Cynthia Jordan

 

Re:            Trust Account No. XXXXXXX

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 2(b) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between E-compass Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of August 12, 2015 (“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. The Company needs such funds to cover its expenses relating to investigating and selecting a target business and other working capital requirements. 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,
     
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Richard Xu, Chairman of the Board
     
  By:  
    Chen Liu, President
     

cc: Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

 

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of August 12, 2015 (“Agreement”), by and among E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP., a Cayman Islands corporation (“Company”), LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS I LLC, HANDY GLOBAL LIMITED, CLASSICAL SKY LIMITED, CARNELIAN BAY CAPITAL INC. and XINLI LI (collectively “Initial Shareholders”) and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation (“Escrow Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2015 (“Underwriting Agreement”), with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Underwriter”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriter has agreed to purchase 4,000,000 units (“Units”) of the Company, plus an additional 600,000 Units if the Underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), and one right (“Right”) to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share upon the Company’s initial business combination, all as more fully described in the Company’s final Prospectus, dated August 12, 2015 (“Prospectus”), comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-204054) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Registration Statement”), declared effective on August 12, 2015 (“Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Initial Shareholders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit their Ordinary shares of the Company, as set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively “Escrow Shares”), in escrow as hereinafter provided.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Initial Shareholders desire that the Escrow Agent accept the Escrow Shares, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.

 

IT IS AGREED:

 

1.           Appointment of Escrow Agent . The Company and the Initial Shareholders hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.

 

2.           Deposit of Escrow Shares . On or prior to the date hereof, each of the Initial Shareholders delivered to the Escrow Agent certificates representing such Initial Shareholder’s respective Escrow Shares, together with applicable share powers, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each of the Initial Shareholders acknowledges that the certificate representing such Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares is legended to reflect the deposit of such Escrow Shares under this Agreement.

 

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3.           Disbursement of the Escrow Shares .

 

3.1          The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares during the period (the “Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and (i) for 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending on the earlier of (x) one year after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement, hereinafter a “Business Combination”) and (y) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $13.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) for the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending one year after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination. The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares (and any applicable share power) to such Initial Shareholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated at any time during the Escrow Period, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Escrow Shares; provided further, however, that if, within one year after the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders of such entity having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Initial Shareholders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.

 

3.2          Notwithstanding Section 3.1, if the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option to purchase an additional 600,000 Units of the Company in full within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Initial Shareholders agree that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of Escrow Shares held by each such holder determined by multiplying (a) the product of (i) 150,000, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of Escrow Shares held by each such holder, and (y) the denominator of which is the total number of Escrow Shares, by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 600,000 minus the number of Ordinary Shares purchased by the Underwriter upon the exercise of its over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 600,000. The Company shall promptly provide notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the Underwriter’s over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriter in connection with their exercise thereof.

 

4.           Rights of Initial Shareholders in Escrow Shares .

 

4.1           Voting Rights as a Shareholder . Subject to the terms of the Insider Letters described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Initial Shareholders shall retain all of their rights as shareholders of the Company during the Escrow Period, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.

 

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4.2           Dividends and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares . During the Escrow Period, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Initial Shareholders, but all dividends payable in stock or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon, if any.

 

4.3           Restrictions on Transfer . During the Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) if the Initial Shareholder is an entity, as a distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the Initial Shareholder upon the liquidation and dissolution of the Initial Shareholder, (ii) by bona fide gift to a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Initial Shareholder or a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Initial Shareholder, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities, (vi) by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.2 above or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case, except for clause (vii), on the condition that such transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter (as defined below) signed by the Initial Shareholder transferring the Escrow Shares.

 

4.4           Insider Letters . Each of the Initial Shareholders has executed a letter agreement with the Underwriter and the Company, dated as indicated on Exhibit A hereto, and the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Insider Letter”), respecting the rights and obligations of such Initial Shareholder in certain events, including but not limited to the liquidation of the Company.

 

5.           Concerning the Escrow Agent .

 

5.1           Good Faith Reliance . The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and 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 Escrow Agent), 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 is believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

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5.2           Indemnification . The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Shares or it may deposit the Escrow Shares with the clerk of any appropriate court or it may retain the Escrow Shares pending receipt of a final, non appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Shares are to be disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive in the event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 5.5 or 5.6 below.

 

5.3           Compensation . The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Company for all services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.

 

5.4           Further Assurances . From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Initial Shareholders shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.

 

5.5           Resignation . The Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over to a successor escrow agent appointed by the Company, the Escrow Shares held hereunder. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60 day period following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Shares with any court it reasonably deems appropriate.

 

5.6           Discharge of Escrow Agent . The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by the other parties hereto, jointly, provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as provided in Section 5.5.

 

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5.7           Liability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own willful misconduct.

 

5.8           Waiver . The Escrow Agent hereby waives any 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 Escrow 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.

 

6.           Miscellaneous .

 

6.1           Governing Law . This Agreement shall for all purposes be deemed to be made under and shall be construed 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.

 

6.2           Third Party Beneficiaries . Each of the Initial Shareholders hereby acknowledges that the Underwriter is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and this Agreement may not be modified or changed without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.

 

6.3           Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the party to the charged.

 

6.4           Headings . The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.

 

6.5           Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties hereto and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

6.6           Notices . Any notice or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and either be delivered personally or be mailed, certified or registered mail, or by private national courier service, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or, if mailed, two days after the date of mailing, as follows:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

Attn: Richard Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

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If to a Shareholder, to his address set forth in Exhibit A.

 

and if to the Escrow Agent, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Chairman

 

A copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) sent hereunder shall be sent to:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel and Investment Banking Department

Facsimile: (212) 829-4708

 

and:

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

 

and:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.

 

The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.

 

6.7           Liquidation of the Company . The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation and dissolution of the Company in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Prospectus.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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WITNESS the execution of this Agreement as of the date first above written.

  

  COMPANY:
     
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: CEO
     
  INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS:
     
  LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS I LLC
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: President
     
  HANDY GLOBAL LIMITED
     
  By: /s/ Chen Liu
    Name: Chen Liu
    Title: Director
     
  CLASSICAL SKY LIMITED
     
  By: /s/ Peiling He
    Name: Peiling He
    Title: Director
     
  CARNELIAN BAY CAPITAL INC.
     
  By: /s/ Nicholas Clements
    Name: Nicholas Clements
    Title: Chairman
     
    /s/ Xinli Li
    Xinli Li
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Robert E. McMonagle
    Name: Robert E. McMonagle
    Title: Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Name and Address of

Initial Shareholder

 

Number

of Shares

 

Share

Certificate Number

 

Date of

Insider Letter

             

Lodestar Investment Holdings I LLC

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

  460,000   1   August 12, 2015

Handy Global Limited

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

  460,000   2   August 12, 2015

Classical Sky Limited

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

  115,000   3   August 12, 2015

Carnelian Bay Capital Inc.

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

  86,250   4   August 12, 2015

Xinli Li

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

28,750

 

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August 12, 2015

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp. (“Company”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”).

 

The undersigned hereby commits that it will purchase an aggregate of 310,000 units of the Company (“Private Units”), each Private Unit consisting of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), and one right (“Right”) each entitling the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share upon consummation of a Business Combination, at $10.00 per Private Unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $3,100,000 (the “Private Unit Purchase Price”).

 

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement entered into in connection with the IPO, in the event that investors introduced by the undersigned to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor Fitzgerald”) do not purchase at least $20,000,000 of the units offering in the IPO, Cantor Fitzgerald shall be entitled to additional underwriting commission in the amount of $0.15 per unit (1.5%) on the amount below $20,000,000 invested by investors introduced by the undersigned. The undersigned hereby commits that it will purchase an additional amount of units of the Company (“Commission Units”) equal to such increased commission to be paid to Cantor Fitzgerald as a result of such event, up to a maximum of 110,000 Commission Units, or a maximum purchase price of $1,100,000 (“Private Commission Unit Purchase Price”, together with the Private Unit Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”),

 

At least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the undersigned will cause the Purchase Price to be delivered to Graubard Miller (“GM”), counsel for the Company, by wire transfer as set forth in the instructions attached as Exhibit A to hold in a non-interest bearing account until the Company consummates the IPO.

 

The consummation of the purchase and issuance of the Private Units and Commission Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, GM shall (i) deposit the Private Unit Purchase Price, without interest or deduction, into the trust fund (“Trust Fund”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders as described in the Registration Statement and (ii) to the extent increased commissions are due pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and as directed in writing by the Company, deposit the Private Commission Unit Purchase Price, without interest or deduction, into the Trust Fund. Promptly following consummation of the IPO, GM shall return any unused portion of the Private Commission Unit Purchase Price to the undersigned, without interest. If the Company does not complete the IPO within six (6) months from the date of this letter (subject to a six (6) month extension at the Company’s option in its sole discretion), the Purchase Price (without interest or deduction) will be returned to the undersigned.

 

 
 

 

Each of the Company, Cantor Fitzgerald and the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that GM is serving hereunder solely as a convenience to the parties to facilitate the purchase of the Private Units and Commission Units and GM’s sole obligation under this letter agreement is to act with respect to holding and disbursing the Purchase Price for the Private Units and Commission Units as described above. GM shall not be liable to the Company, Cantor Fitzgerald or the undersigned or any other person or entity in respect of any act or failure to act hereunder or otherwise in connection with performing its services hereunder unless GM has acted in a manner constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company and the undersigned shall indemnify GM against any claim made against it (including reasonable attorney’s fees) by reason of it acting or failing to act in connection with this letter agreement except as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. GM may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

The Private Units and Commission Units will be identical to the units to be sold by the Company in the IPO. Additionally, the undersigned agrees:

 

to vote the Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units and Commission Units in favor of any proposed Business Combination;

 

not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of such a Business Combination unless the Company offers dissenting holders the right to convert their shares for a portion of the cash held in the Trust Fund;

 

not to convert any Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units and Commission Units into the right to receive cash from the Trust Fund in connection with a shareholder vote to approve either a Business Combination or an amendment to the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity;

 

that the Private Units, Commission Units and underlying securities will not be transferable until after the consummation of a Business Combination except (i) to the undersigned’s members upon its liquidation, (ii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchase of the Company’s securities, (vi) by private sales made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Units were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case (except for clause vi) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the transfer restrictions;

 

the Private Units and Commission Units will be subject to customary registration rights, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement on terms agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

 

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the undersigned will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Private Units and Commission Units (but will participate in liquidation distributions with respect to any units or Common Stock purchased by the Undersigned in the IPO or in the open market) if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination; and

  

the Private Units and Commission Units will include any additional terms or restrictions as is customary in other similarly structured blank check company offerings or as may be reasonably required by the underwriters in the IPO in order to consummate the IPO, each of which will be set forth in the Registration Statement.

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the purchaser of the Private Units and Commission Units will execute agreements in form and substance typical for transactions of this nature necessary to effectuate the foregoing agreements and obligations prior to the consummation of the IPO as are reasonably acceptable to the undersigned, including but not limited to an insider letter.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that:

 

(a) it has been advised that the Private Units and Commission Units have not been registered under the Securities Act;

 

(b) it will be acquiring the Private Units and Commission Units for its account for investment purposes only;

 

(c) it has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of the Private Units and Commission Units in violation of the securities laws of the United States;

 

(d) it is an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

(e) it has had both the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers and directors of the Company and all persons acting on its behalf concerning the terms and conditions of the offer made hereunder;

 

(f) it is familiar with the proposed business, management, financial condition and affairs of the Company;

 

(g) it has full power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this letter and any documents contemplated herein or needed to consummate the transactions contemplated in this letter; and

 

(h) this letter constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, and is enforceable against it.

 

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This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the undersigned and the Company with respect to the purchase of the Private Units and Commission Units, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to the same.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS I LLC
     
  BY: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: President

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.

 

By: /s/ Peiling He  
  Name: Peiling He  
  Title: CFO  

 

Graubard Miller

(solely with respect to its obligations to hold

and disburse the Purchase Price)

 

By: /s/ Jeffrey M. Gallant  
  Name: Jeffrey M. Gallant  
  Title: Partner  

 

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of the 12 th day of August, 2015, by and among E-compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands corporation (the “ Company ”) and the undersigned parties listed under Investor on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Investors and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide the Investors with certain rights relating to the registration of the securities held by them as of the date hereof;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.              DEFINITIONS . The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement ” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Business Combination ” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities having a collective fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the Company’s trust account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such transaction.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Ordinary Shares ” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

Company ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Demand Registration ” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder ” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Form S-3 ” is defined in Section 2.3.

 

Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Indemnifying Party ” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

 
 

 

Initial Shares ” means all of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company issued prior to the consummation of its initial public offering.

 

Investor ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Investor Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Maximum Number of Shares ” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Notices ” is defined in Section 6.3.

 

Piggy-Back Registration ” is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Commission Units ” means the additional number of Private Units the Investors will be required to purchase under certain circumstances as described in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Private Units ” means the 310,000 Units the Investors are privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Register ,” “ Registered ” and “ Registration ” 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.

 

Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Initial Shares, (ii) the Private Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), (iii) the Commission Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), if any, and (iv) the Working Capital Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), if any. Registrable Securities include any warrants, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Initial Shares, Private Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), Commission Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares) and Working Capital Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares). As to any particular Registrable Securities, 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 them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 without volume limitations.

 

Registration Statement ” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).

 

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Release Date ” means the date on which the Initial Shares are disbursed from escrow pursuant to Section 3 of that certain Stock Escrow Agreement dated as of August 12, 2015 by and among the Investors and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Underwriter ” means 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.

 

Units ” means the units of the Company, each comprised of one Ordinary Share and one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share.

 

Working Capital Units ” means any Units held by Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates which may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to the Company.

 

2.              REGISTRATION RIGHTS .

 

2.1            Demand Registration .

 

2.1.1 Request for Registration . At any time and from time to time on or after (i) the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination with respect to the Private Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Commission Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) and Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or (ii) three months prior to the Release Date with respect to all other Registrable Securities, the holders of a majority-in-interest of such Private Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Commission Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or other Registrable Securities, as the case may be, held by the Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates, or the transferees of the Investors, may make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Private Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Commission Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or other Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “ Demand Registration ”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “ Demanding Holder ”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.

 

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2.1.2              Effective Registration . A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will 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 thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.

 

2.1.3              Underwritten Offering . If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

2.1.4              Reduction of Offering . If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such 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 shares, as applicable, the “ Maximum Number of Shares ”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as " Pro Rata ")) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

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2.1.5              Withdrawal . If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1.

 

  2.2 Piggy-Back Registration .

 

2.2.1              Piggy-Back 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, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), 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 shareholders, (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 (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall 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, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “ Piggy-Back Registration ”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such 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 to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.

 

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2.2.2              Reduction of Offering . If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

a)             If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;

 

b)             If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.2.3              Withdrawal . Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.

 

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2.2.4              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 register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration which 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. Upon receipt of such written request, the Company will promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $500,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

  3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES .

 

3.1            Filings; Information . Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:

 

3.1.1              Filing Registration Statement . The Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the President or Chairman of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.

 

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3.1.2              Copies . The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to 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 holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.

 

3.1.3              Amendments and Supplements . The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.

 

3.1.4              Notification . After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.

 

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3.1.5              State Securities Laws Compliance . The Company shall 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 but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

 

3.1.6              Agreements for Disposition . The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.7              Cooperation . The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.

 

3.1.8              Records . The Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.9              Opinions and Comfort Letters . The Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter. In the event no legal opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, at any time that such holder elects to use a prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the effect that the Registration Statement containing such prospectus has been declared effective and that no stop order is in effect.

 

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3.1.10              Earnings Statement . The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

3.1.11              Listing . The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.

 

3.1.12 Road Show . If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of [$25,000,000], the Company shall 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.

 

3.2            Obligation to Suspend Distribution . Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

3.3            Registration Expenses . The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration and (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

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3.4            Information . The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

  4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION .

 

4.1            Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “ Investor Indemnified Party ”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.

 

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4.2            Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities . Each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.

 

4.3            Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.

 

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  4.4 Contribution .

 

4.4.1             If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party 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 such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

4.4.2             The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 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 the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.

 

4.4.3             The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. 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.

 

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  5. RULE 144 .

 

5.1            Rule 144 . The Company covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.

 

  6. MISCELLANEOUS .

 

6.1            Other Registration Rights . The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any shares of the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Company’s capital stock in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person.

 

6.2            Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries . 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. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2.

 

6.3            Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “ Notices ”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.

 

To the Company:

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp.
6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China
Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

14
 

 

with a copy to:

 

Graubard Miller
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York NY 10174
Attn:  David Alan Miller, Esq.

 

To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

6.4            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 that is valid and enforceable.

 

6.5            Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6.6            Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

6.7            Modifications and Amendments . No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless executed in writing by such party.

 

6.8            Titles and Headings . Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

6.9            Waivers and Extensions . Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

6.10          Remedies Cumulative . In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

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6.11              Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

6.12              Waiver of Trial by Jury . Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to a trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or other proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of, connected with or relating to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the actions of the Investor in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement hereof.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

16
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  INVESTORS:
   
  LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS I LLC
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
    Name: Richard Xu
    Title: President
     
  HANDY GLOBAL LIMITED
     
  By: /s/ Chen Liu
    Name: Chen Liu
    Title: Director
     
  CLASSICAL SKY LIMITED
     
  By: /s/ Peiling He
    Name: Peiling He
    Title: Director
     
  CARNELIAN BAY CAPITAL INC.
     
  By: /s/ Nicholas Clements
    Name: Nicholas Clements
    Title: Chairman
     
    /s/ Xinli Li
    Xinli Li

 

17
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

 

Name and Address of

Initial Shareholder

 

Lodestar Investment Holdings I LLC

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

Handy Global Limited

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

Classical Sky Limited

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

Carnelian Bay Capital Inc.

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

Xinli Li

c/o E-compass Acquisition Corp.

6F/Tower, 2 West Prosper Centre

No.5, Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing, 100020, P.R. China

 

 

18

Exhibit 99.1

 

Contact:

Richard Xu
Chief Executive Officer

E-Compass Acquisition Corp.

86 (10) 8573 1453

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

 

New York, New York, August 13, 2015 – E-compass Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ECACU) (the “Company”) today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 4,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $40,000,000. Each unit consists of one ordinary share, par value $.0001 per share, and one right to receive one-tenth of one ordinary share upon consummation of an initial business combination.

 

The units are expected to begin trading Thursday, August 13, 2015 on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "ECACU." Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “ECAC” and “ECACR,” respectively.

 

The Company is a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated as a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, or entering into contractual arrangements that give it control over such a target business. The Company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region of the world, although the Company initially intends to focus on target businesses in the People’s Republic of China that operate in the e-commerce and consumer retail industry.

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as the sole underwriter for the offering. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 499 Park Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10022 Attention: Capital Markets, email: Prospectus@Cantor.com.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including the successful consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

 

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