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): June 23, 2017 (June 19, 2017)
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Virgin Islands | 001-38120 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
609-610 21st Century Tower
No.
40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing
China 100016
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(86) 10-8444-6968
(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:
☐ | 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)) |
☐
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On June 19, 2017, the registration statement (File No. 333-218404) (the “ Registration Statement ”) for Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.’s (the “ Company ”) initial public offering (“ IPO ”) was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”). In connection therewith, the Company entered into the following agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:
● | An Underwriting Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. as representative of the underwriters (“ EBC ”); | |
● | A Letter Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and EBC; | |
● | A Warrant Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company(“ Continental ”); | |
● |
A Rights Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and Continental;
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A Letter Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, among the Company, EBC and each of the sponsor, director and officer of the Company;
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● | Amended and Restated Subscription Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and the sponsor; | |
● | Amended and Restated Subscription Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and EBC; | |
● | An Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and Continental; | |
● | A Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and security holders; | |
● | An Letter Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and Bison Capital Holding Limited (the “ Sponsor ’) regarding administrative support; | |
● | An Escrow Agreement, dated June 13, 2017, among the Company, initial shareholders, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company; | |
● | An Indemnity Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, among the Company, some of directors and officers of the Company. |
On June 23, 2017, the Company consummated its IPO of 5,250,000 units (“ Units ”). Each Unit consists of one ordinary share, no par value per share (“ Ordinary Share ”), one right (“ Right ”) and one half (1/2) of one warrant (“ Warrant ”). Each right entitles the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share upon consummation of an initial business combination (a “ Business Combination ”). Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. Each warrant will become exercisable on a consummation of Business Combination, and will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption. The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $52,500,000. The Company has granted EBC, the representative of the underwriters, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 787,500 units (over and above the 5,250,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Company consummated the private placement (“ Private Placement ”) of 388,750 units (with 362,500 units being purchased by the Company’s Sponsor and 26,250 units being purchased by EarlyBirdCapital) in the aggregate (“ Private Units ”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit. The Private Placement generated total proceeds of $3,887,500. The Private Units consist of one Ordinary Share (“ Private Share ”), one right (“ Private Right ”) and one half (1/2) of one warrant (“ Private Warrant ”).
The Private Units and underlying securities are identical to the Units and underlying securities sold in the IPO except that (1) the Private Units were purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Private Units is registered under the Securities Act; (2) the Private Warrants will be non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees; and (3) with certain limited exceptions, the Private Units will not be transferable, assignable or salable by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees until after the completion of a Business Combination. If the Private Warrants are held by holders other than the holders who purchased Private Units or their permitted transferees, the Private Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Warrants sold in the IPO.
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In connection with the IPO, the Company also issued to EBC an option to purchase up to a total of 157,500 additional Units exercisable at $10.00 per Unit commencing on the later of the consummation of a Business Combination and one year from the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO. The Units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered by the IPO except that the units, if the purchase option is exercised, will be purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On June 19, 2017, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association in British Virgin Islands. The terms of the foregoing are set forth in the Registration Statement and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
A total of $53,812,500 of the net proceeds of the IPO, taking into account the $3,887,500 the Company received from the sale of the Private Units, or $10.25 per unit sold to the public in the IPO, was placed in a trust account (“ Trust Account ”) in the United States at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., maintained by Continental, acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement signed on June 19, 2017. The remaining $500,000 of net proceeds of the IPO was not held in the Trust Account.
Copies of the press releases issued by the Company announcing the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and consummation of the IPO are included as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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SIGNATURES
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.
Date: June 23, 2017
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. | ||
By: | /s/James Jiayuan Tong | |
James Jiayuan Tong | ||
Chief Executive
Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
4
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
5,250,000 Units
BISON CAPITAL Acquisition Corp.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
June 19, 2017
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company (the “ Company ”), hereby confirms its agreement with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “ Representative ”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “ Underwriters ” or, each underwriter individually, an “ Underwriter ”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities .
1.1. Units .
1.1.1. Purchase of Units . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 5,250,000 units of the Company (the “ Firm Units ”) at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.70 per Firm Unit. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value per share (the “ Ordinary Shares ”), one right (the “ Right(s) ”) to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share on consummation of a Business Combination (defined below) and one-half of one warrant (the “ Warrant(s) ”) each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share. The Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants included in the Firm Units will not be separately tradable until 90 days after the date hereof unless the Representative informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A . The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (the “ Offering ”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit.
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
June 19, 2017
Page 2 of 45
1.1.2. Payment and Delivery . Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the third (3 rd ) Business Day following the commencement of trading of the Firm Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the Offering is referred to herein as the “ Closing ” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “ Closing Date .” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date through the facilities of Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds. The Company shall receive an aggregate of $54,312,500 net proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and the Private Units (defined in Section 1.4.2 below), of which $53,812,500 shall be deposited on the Closing Date into the trust account (the “ Trust Account ”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Shareholders, as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof) and pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “ Trust Agreement ”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“ CST&T ”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The remaining proceeds (less actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the DTC for the account of the Representative). The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days (defined below) prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative 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 the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which national banks in New York, New York are not open for business, and the term “ Public Shareholders ” means the holders of Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including any of the Respondents (as defined in Section 2.14 below) to the extent they acquire such Ordinary Shares in the Offering or in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares).
1.2. Over-Allotment Option
1.2.1. The Representative shall have the option (the “ Over-Allotment Option” ) to purchase all or less than all of an additional 787,500 Units (the “ Option Units ”) solely for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall, at the Representative’s election, be purchased for each account of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions). Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to 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 Representative to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit (net of discounts and commissions) will be $9.70 per Option Unit.
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
June 19, 2017
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1.2.2. Exercise of Option . The Over-Allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within thirty(30 days) after the Effective Date. The Representative 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 written notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in accordance with Section 10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, if other than the Closing Date (the “ Option Closing Date ”), which shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or be later than the earlier of (i) 30 days after the Effective Date and (ii) ten (10) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. Upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Representative, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Representative will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3. Payment and Delivery . Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable as follows: $9.70 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative). The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests not less than two full business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date.
1.3. Representative’s Purchase Option . The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date, for an aggregate purchase price of $100.00, an option (“ Representative’s Purchase Option ”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 150,000 Units (the “ Representative’s Units ”). Each of the Representative’s Units is identical to the Firm Units. The Representative’s Purchase Option shall be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, in whole or in part, commencing on the later of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from the Effective Date and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Effective Date at an initial exercise price per Representative’s Unit of $10.00, which is equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the initial public offering price per Unit. On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Representative, upon payment therefor, certificates for the Representative’s Purchase Option in the name or names and in such denominations as the Representative may request. The Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Units, the Ordinary Shares included in the Representative’s Units, the Rights included in the Representative’s Units (the “ Representative’s Rights ”), the Warrants included in the Representative’s Units (the “ Representative’s Warrants ”) and the Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Representative’s Rights and Representative’s Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Representative’s Securities .” Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Purchase Option shall be made on the Closing Date.
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June 19, 2017
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1.4. Private Placements .
1.4.1. The Company issued to Bison Capital Holding Company Limited (the “ Sponsor ”) and the Company’s officers and directors (collectively, the “ Insiders ”), for aggregate consideration of $25,000, 1,509,375 (as adjusted for a split effected as of the date hereof) Ordinary Shares (the “ Insider Shares ”) in a private placement intended to be 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 sale of the Insider Shares. The Insider Shares shall be held in escrow and subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Escrow Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.3 hereof). The Insiders 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 any proposed initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination, or entering into contractual arrangements, with one or more businesses or entities (“ Business Combination ”) within the required time period. The Insiders shall not have conversion rights with respect to the Insider Shares nor shall they be entitled to sell such Insider Shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination. To the extent that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised by the Underwriters in full or in part, up to 196,875 of the Insider Shares shall be subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor. The Sponsor will be required to forfeit only a number of Ordinary Shares necessary to maintain the Insiders’ 20% ownership interest in the Ordinary Shares after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Underwriters’ Over-allotment Option (and excluding the purchase of the Private Units and any shares purchased in the Offering).
1.4.2. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Sponsor (and/or its designees) and the Representative (and/or its designees) will purchase from the Company pursuant to a Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 hereof), an aggregate of 362,500 Units and 26,250 Units, respectively (the “Private Units” ) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement (the “ Private Placement ”) intended to be exempt from registration under the Act. The terms of the Private Units are as described in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Private Placement. The Sponsor and the Representative have also agreed that, in the event the Representative has exercised the Over-allotment Option, they (and/or their designees) will purchase up to 39,375 and 3,937 additional Private Units, respectively, and the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of additional proceeds from the sale of such additional Private Units into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.25 per Public Share sold in the Offering.
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June 19, 2017
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1.5. Working Capital; Trust Account Proceeds .
1.5.1. Working Capital . Upon consummation of the Offering, it is intended that approximately $500,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and Private Units will be released to the Company to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.5.2. Trust Account Proceeds . Interest income on the funds held in the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company, all as more fully described in the Prospectus.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:
2.1. Filing of Registration Statement .
2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act . The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218404), including any related preliminary prospectus (the “ 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 Public Securities 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. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective (“ Effective Date ”), 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, together with the registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional Public Securities (the “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), 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 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, dated June 19, 2017, for distribution by the Underwriters (the “ Statutory Prospectus ”). Other than the Registration Statement, together with any correspondence letters between the Company and/or counsel for the Company and the Commission, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed under the Act with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been or will be registered under the Act pursuant to the 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 Representative has determined that at the Time of Sale the Statutory Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Statutory 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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June 19, 2017
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2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange Act . The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File Number 001-38120) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
2.2. No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any foreign or state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.3. Disclosures in Registration Statement .
2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation . At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the effective time of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus contained or 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. On the Effective Date and at the Time of Sale, the Registration Statement did not, and on the Closing Date it will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) 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; and at the Time of Sale, the Statutory Prospectus does 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, which information, it is agreed, shall consist solely of the subsection captioned “Pricing of this Offering” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”
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June 19, 2017
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2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements . The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 Statutory 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 or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the 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, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions . No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4. Regulations . The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
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June 19, 2017
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2.4. Changes After Dates in Registration Statement .
2.4.1. No Material Adverse Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 board of directors or 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 Company’s board of directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.4.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 capital stock.
2.5. Independent Accountants . Marcum LLP (“ Marcum ”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “ PCAOB ”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, Marcum is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. Marcum has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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.
2.6. Financial Statements .
2.6.1 The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects 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 Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Statutory 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, prospects, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses, to the extent they exist. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Regulations which have not been included as so required.
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2.7. Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 Ordinary Shares, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.8. Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.8.1. Outstanding Securities . All issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The outstanding Ordinary Shares conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers, sales and any transfers of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or exempt from such registration requirements.
2.8.2. Securities To Be Sold .
2.8.2.1. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
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2.8.2.2. When issued, the Representative’s Purchase Option and the Representative’s Rights and Representative’s Warrants will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the exercise price therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Representative’s Purchase Option, Representative’s Rights and Representative’s Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with its 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 underlying the Representative’s Units, the Representative’s Rights and Representative’s Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Representative’s Purchase Option upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, will be duly and validly authorized, 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 Representative’s Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
2.8.2.3. The Private Units and the Rights and Warrants included within the Private Units (the “ Private Rights ” and “ Private Warrants ”, respectively) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Subscription Agreement, 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 Private Units, Private Rights and Private Warrants 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 Private Units, Private Rights and Private Warrants has been duly and validly taken. The Private Units, Private Rights and Private Warrants conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
2.8.2.4. The Insider Shares have been duly authorized, duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Insider Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Insider Shares has been duly and validly taken. The Insider Shares conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
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2.8.3. 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 “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
2.9. Registration Rights of Third Parties . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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.
2.10. Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements . This Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.7 hereof), the Business Combination Marketing Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 hereof), the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.26 hereof), the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.28 hereof), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.6) and the Representative’s Purchase Option have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, will constitute 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 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.
2.11. No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Representative’s Purchase Option, 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 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, except with respect to clauses (i) and (iii) which violation or default will not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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2.12. No Defaults; Violations . No material default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in material violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in material violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.
2.13. Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents .
2.13.1. Conduct of Business . 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 for the purposes described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus other than those the failure of which to have would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its formation and in furtherance of the Offering.
2.13.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein . The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Representative’s Purchase Option and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”).
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2.14. D&O Questionnaires . To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “ Questionnaires ”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors, 5% beneficial owners and owners of unregistered securities acquired within the past 180 days (the “ Respondents ”) immediately prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement and provided to the Representative, as such Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by each of the Respondents, as well as the biographies previously provided to the Representative, is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect.
2.15. Litigation; Governmental Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Respondents, which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.16. Good Standing . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a British Virgin Islands company and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign entity 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 condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).
2.17. No Contemplation of a Business Combination . Prior to the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Company, no Respondent has, and as of the Closing, the Company and such Respondents 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 which the Company may seek to acquire (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 (c) engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any Target Business for the Company.
2.18. Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA .
2.18.1. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “ FINRA Questionnaires ”) completed by each of the Respondents and provided to the Representative, as such FINRA Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by each of the Respondents, is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect.
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2.18.2. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Company Affiliate with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.18.3. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, other than the Representative.
2.18.4. Except as provided in the FINRA Questionnaires, to the Company’s knowledge, no officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner of 5% or greater of any class of the Company’s securities, including the Sponsor and holders of securities to be purchased in the Private Placements (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “ Company Affiliate ”) is a member of FINRA or a person associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA.
2.18.5. Except as provided in the FINRA Questionnaires, to the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market).
2.18.6. To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA.
2.18.7. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities or Private Units (excluding underwriting compensation) will be paid to any FINRA member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as specifically authorized herein or as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.18.8. 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 with the Commission, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
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2.18.9. Except as provided in the FINRA Questionnaires, to the Company’s knowledge, 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 with the Commission has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA.
2.18.10. To the Company’s knowledge, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest (as defined by FINRA rules) with the Company.
2.18.11. Except with respect to the Representative 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 with the Commission, 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.
2.19. Taxes .
2.19.1. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under British Virgin Islands law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision thereof, 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.
2.19.2. The Company has filed all non-U.S. and U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed by it or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.20. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company nor to the knowledge of the Company any of the Respondents or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “ FCPA ”) or otherwise subject the Company to any damage or penalty under the FCPA in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction), but in each case, only to the extent that such action would result in a violation of the FCPA. The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the FCPA.
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2.21. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act . The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions with authority over the Company, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency with authority over the Company (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 best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.22. Patriot Act . Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Affiliate, has violated the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.23. Officers’ Certificate . Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to its counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.24. Agreements With Company Affiliates .
2.24.1. 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 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) in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Insider Letters ”), pursuant to which each of the directors and officers of the Company and the Sponsor agree to certain matters, including but not limited to, the voting of Ordinary Shares held by them and certain matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus.
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2.24.2. Subscription Agreement . The Sponsor has executed and delivered a subscription agreement, which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Subscription Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed, among other things, to purchase on the Closing Date the Private Units in the Private Placement. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the purchaser has waived any and all rights and claims it may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Ordinary Shares included in or underlying the Private Units in the event that a Business Combination is not consummated and the Trust Account is liquidated in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement.
2.24.3. Escrow Agreement . The Company has caused the Insiders to enter into an escrow agreement (the “ Escrow Agreement ”) with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement whereby the Insider Shares will be held in escrow by CST&T for a period (the “ Escrow Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and expiring (i) with respect to 50% of the Insider Shares, on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination and the date on which the closing price of the Ordinary Share exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of the Business Combination, and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Insider Shares, on the one year anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination, or earlier in each case in certain limited situations. During the Escrow Period, such parties shall be prohibited from selling or otherwise transferring such Insider Shares, except in certain limited circumstances set forth in the Escrow Agreement. To the Company’s knowledge, the Escrow Agreement, when duly executed, is enforceable against the Insiders and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, result in a breach of, or conflict with, any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, an agreement or instrument to which any of the Insiders are a party.
2.24.4. Non-Competition/Solicitation . To the Company’s knowledge, no director or officer of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect each director’s or officer’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or officer of the Company, as applicable, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.24.5. Loans . The Sponsor has made a loan to the Company in the aggregate amount of $300,000, as described in the Registration Statement (the “ Insider Loan ”). The Insider Loan does not bear any interest and is repayable by the Company on the consummation of the Offering.
2.24.6. Registration Rights Agreement . The Company and the Insiders have entered into (or will enter into prior to Closing) a registration rights agreement (“ Registration Rights Agreement ”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the Insiders will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.
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2.24.7. Administrative Services . The Company has entered into an agreement (“ Services Agreement ”) with the Sponsor substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $5,000 per month payable until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account.
2.25. Investment Management Trust Agreement . The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placements substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the funds held in the Trust Account may be released under limited circumstances. The Trust Agreement shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed in any way that modifies the rights or obligations of the Representative without the prior written consent of the Representative, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
2.26. Rights Agreement . The Company has entered into a rights agreement with respect to the Rights, the Representative’s Rights and Private Rights with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Rights Agreement ”).
2.27. Business Combination Marketing Agreement . The Company and the Representative have entered into a separate business combination marketing agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Business Combination Marketing Agreement ”).
2.28. Warrant Agreement . The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants, Representative’s Warrants and Private Warrants with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ Warrant Agreement ”).
2.29. Investments . No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“ Investment Company Act ”)) of the Company’s total assets (exclusive of cash items and “Government Securities,” as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than Government Securities.
2.30. Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Public Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
2.31. Subsidiaries . The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.
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2.32. 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 Statutory 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 which do not violate SOX) 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 Statutory Prospectus and the 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.
2.33. No Influence . The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters 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.
2.34. Sarbanes-Oxley . The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“ SOX ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.
2.35. Nasdaq Eligibility . As of the Effective Date, the Public Securities have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Markets (“ NASDAQ ”), subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company's directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement the Company will be in compliance with, the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, as amended.
2.36. Emerging Growth Status . From the date of the Company’s 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”).
2.37. Testing-The-Waters Communications . The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
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2.38. Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains effective “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to the extent required by such rule.
2.39. Definition of “Knowledge” . As used in herein, the term “ knowledge of the Company ” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the Company’s executive officers and directors, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented.
3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1. Amendments to Registration Statement . The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2. Federal Securities Laws .
3.2.1. Compliance . During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus . The Company will promptly file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
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3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration . For a period of five years from the Effective Date (except in connection with a going private transaction), or until such earlier time upon which the Trust Account is liquidated, or if the Company goes private, in the event the Company has not consummated a Business Combination as required by its Charter Documents (the “ Termination Date ”), the Company (i) will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Ordinary Shares, Rights (until the consummation of the Business Combination) and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not deregister the Ordinary Shares, Rights (prior to the consummation of the Business Combination) or Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the 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 SOX 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.
3.3. Emerging Growth Company Status . The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the earlier of five years after the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date.
3.4. Delivery of Materials to Underwriters . The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request.
3.5. Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative . The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order 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 this Section 3.5 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company or its counsel, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, (with respect to the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus 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. Review of Financial Statements . Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date, or until the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date, or the if Company goes private, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s quarterly report.
3.7. Affiliated Transactions .
3.7.1. Business Combinations . The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with an entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless in each case the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of Target Business the Company is seeking to acquire that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.
3.7.2. Services Agreement . The Company has entered into the Services Agreement with the Sponsor pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $5,000 per month. Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not enter into any other arrangement for the provision of such services with any Insider that will require the Company to pay in excess of $5,000 per month for such services.
3.7.3. Compensation . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company shall not pay any Insider or Company Affiliate or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, either this Offering or the Business Combination.
3.8. Secondary Market Trading and Standard & Poor’s . If the Company does not maintain the listing of the Public Securities on NASDAQ or another national securities exchange, the Company will (i) apply to be included in Standard & Poor’s Daily News and Corporation Records Corporate Descriptions for a period of five years from the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) take such commercially reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain a secondary market trading exemption for the Company’s securities in such jurisdictions and (iii) take such other action as may be reasonably requested by the Representative to obtain a secondary market trading exemption in such other states as may be requested by the Representative; provided that no qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign entity doing business in such jurisdiction.
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3.9. Investor Relations Firm . Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain an investor relations firm with the expertise necessary to assist the Company both before and after the consummation of the Business Combination for a term to be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.
3.10. Reports to the Representative .
3.10.1. 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 and dissolved or goes private, the Company will furnish to the Representative 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 Representative: (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 which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Current Report on Form 8-K and any Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company; (iv) five copies of each registration statement, proxy statement or tender offer document filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities 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 Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System ( “EDGAR” ), including registration statements, shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this section.
3.10.2. For a period of five years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated or goes private, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST&T is acceptable to the Underwriters.
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3.11. 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 Date, or such later date as may be agreed to by the Representative in its sole discretion, all fees and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, and the final Prospectus 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 Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters; (ii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon; (iii) NASDAQ filing fees or, if necessary, the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws; (iv) fees and expenses (including legal fees of the Representative not to exceed $15,000) incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA; (v) fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent; (vi) all costs and expenses of the Company associated with “road show” marketing and “due diligence” trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, including without limitation, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management; and (vii) 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 3.11. The Company also agrees that it will pay for an investigative search firm of the Representative’s choice to conduct an investigation of the principals of the Company as shall be mutually selected by the Representative and the Company (not to exceed $25,000). If the Offering is consummated, the Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses set forth above (which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Representative prior to Closing) to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others. As of the date hereof, the Company has paid $25,000 to the Representative. The Representative shall retain such part of the advance previously paid as shall equal its actual out-of-pocket expenses and refund the balance, if any. Additionally, if the Offering is not consummated because the Company has materially breached any of its obligations hereunder or because the Company elects not to proceed with the offering for any reason other than Representative’s inability to complete the Offering (at the size and on the terms herein) within a reasonable period of time, then the Company shall reimburse the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred through such date, including, without limitation, fees of counsel to the Representative, which reimbursement shall not exceed $100,000 less the $25,000 previously paid.
3.12. Application of Net Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from this Offering received by it in a manner substantially consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.13. 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 sixteenth 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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3.14. Notice to FINRA .
3.14.1. Assistance with Business Combination . For a period of ninety days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a Business Combination candidate or to provide any similar Business Combination-related services, the Company will provide the following information (the “ Business Combination Information ”) to the Representative: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services (which details or agreements may be appropriately redacted to account for privilege or confidentiality concerns); and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the Business Combination-related services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Conduct Rules. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the proxy statement which the Company will file for purposes of soliciting shareholder approval for the Business Combination. Upon the Company’s delivery of the Business Combination Information to the Representative, the Company hereby expressly authorizes the Representative to provide such information directly to FINRA as a result of representations the Representative have made to FINRA in connection with the Offering.
3.14.2. 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 the Representative.
3.15. Stabilization . Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, officers, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) 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.
3.16. Internal Controls . From and after the Closing Date, 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.
3.17. Accountants . For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Trust Account is required to be liquidated or the Company goes private, the Company shall retain Marcum or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
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3.18. Form 8-K’s . The Company has retained Marcum to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “ Audited Balance Sheet ”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placements. Within four (4) Business Days of 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 Balance Sheet. If the Over-Allotment Option has not been exercised on the Effective Date, the Company will also file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information of the Company to reflect the exercise and consummation of the Over-Allotment Option.
3.19. FINRA . Until the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall advise the Representative 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.
3.20. 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 counsel for the Underwriters.
3.21. Investment Company . The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as set forth in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof 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 will be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.22. Press Releases . The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press release or engaging in any other publicity required by law.
3.23. Electronic Prospectus . The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its 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 Underwriters 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 Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Ordinary Shares for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares 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 Representative, 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). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.
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3.24. 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 or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.
3.25. NASDAQ Maintenance . Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing by NASDAQ of the Units and the Ordinary Shares and Warrants included within the Units.
3.26. Private Placement Proceeds . On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited $3,887,500 of proceeds from the Private Placement into the Trust Account. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of additional proceeds from the additional Private Units sold on the Option Closing Date into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.25 per Public Share sold in the Offering.
3.27. Reservation of Shares . The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable pursuant to the Rights, Warrants, the Private Rights, the Private Warrants, the Representative’s Rights and the Representative’s Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.28. Testing-the-Waters Communications . If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representative so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representative in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.
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4. Conditions .
4.1. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, 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 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:
4.1.1. Regulatory Matters .
4.1.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement . The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 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 Representative, and, at the 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.
4.1.1.2. FINRA Clearance . By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.1.3. 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, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
4.1.1.4. NASDAQ Listing . The Public Securities shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
4.1.2. Company Counsel Matters .
4.1.2.1. Opinions of Company Counsel . On each of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of Hunter Taubman Fischer &Li LLC, U.S. counsel to the Company, and Ogier, British Virgin Islands counsel to the Company, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Representative.
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4.1.2.2. Reliance . In rendering such opinions, such counsels may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers (or equivalent) of the Company and officers (or equivalent) of departments of various jurisdiction having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested. The opinions of counsels for the Company and any opinion relied upon by such counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.
4.1.3. Cold Comfort Letter . At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters 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 Representative from Marcum dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and 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 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 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 a limited 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 which would lead them to believe that: (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement 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 Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus; or (b) at a date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the December 31, 2016 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from December 31, 2016 to a specified date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any changes in revenues, net earnings (losses), or net earnings (losses) per Ordinary Share, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the period from October 7, 2016 (Inception) to December 31, 2016 included in the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such change, setting forth the amount of such change;
(iv) 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 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
(v) Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.1.4. Officers’ Certificates .
4.1.4.1. Officers’ Certificate . As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer (in their capacities as such), 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 and that the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.1.4.2. Secretary’s Certificate . As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, respectively, certifying: (i) that the Charter Documents of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and NASDAQ; and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
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4.1.5. No Material Changes . Prior to 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 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, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Company Affiliate before or by any court or foreign, federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act against the Company and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Statutory 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 none of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any 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 case of the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.
4.1.6. Delivery of Agreements . On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and all of the Insider Letters. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative the Representative’s Purchase Option.
4.1.7. Private Units . On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Sponsor and Representative shall have purchased the Private Units as provided for in the Subscription Agreement and the purchase price for such securities shall be deposited into the Trust Account.
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5. Indemnification .
5.1. Indemnification of Underwriters .
5.1.1. General . Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Public Securities (each a “ Selected Dealer ”) and each of their respective directors, officers, partners and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter or Selected Dealer (“ Controlling Person ”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and its counsel, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulation of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus relating to any of the Public Securities; or (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, NASDAQ (in each case other than statements contained in the section captioned “Selling Restrictions”); or the omission or alleged omission therefrom 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, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in clause (ii) of the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Public Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.4 hereof. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative 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 Public Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
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5.1.2. Procedure . If any action is brought against an Underwriter or controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter) and payment of actual expenses, and the Company thereafter will not be liable to any person to be indemnified hereunder for expenses incurred by such person in connection with the defense thereof. Such Underwriter or controlling person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person unless: (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action; (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action; or (iii) counsel to such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties) and cannot be made, in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter and/or controlling person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Underwriter or controlling person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of a judgment of any claim against any person to be indemnified hereunder if made without the Company’s prior written consent unless the Company is completely released from liability.
5.2. Indemnification of the Company . Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, and employees and agents and persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and its counsel, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, 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, 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 such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in clause (ii) of the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.
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5.3. Contribution .
5.3.1. 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 but is unavailable, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters 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 Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an 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 Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.
5.3.2. Contribution Procedure . Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representatives) 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 unless the contributing party or any relevant defense is prejudiced thereby. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representatives 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.
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6. Default by an Underwriter .
6.1. Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units . If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2. Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units . In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.11 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3. Postponement of Closing Date . In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.
7. Additional Covenants .
7.1. Additional Shares or Options . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company hereby agrees that until the Company consummates 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 stock which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote on a Business Combination.
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7.2. Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments . The Company hereby agrees that, prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor, it will use its best efforts to have such Target Business or vendor acknowledge in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle 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 $53,812,500 for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination, and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (1) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (2) 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 of 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 Exhibit A and B , respectively.
7.3. Insider Letters . The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters executed or to be executed between each Company Affiliate and the Representative and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters without the prior written consent of the Representative.
7.4. Intentionally Omitted .
7.5. 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.
7.6. Presentation of Potential Target Businesses . The Company shall cause each of the Sponsor and the directors and officers of the Company to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the Sponsor and the directors and officers of the Company will present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or company, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations the Sponsor, directors or officers might have.
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7.7. Target Fair Market Value . 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 (excluding any taxes and deferred underwriting commissions) at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business. The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of Target Business the Company is seeking to acquire. The Company is not required to obtain such an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.
8. 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 at the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and 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 any 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 several Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof .
9.1. Effective Date . This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
9.2. Termination . The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted or, in the Representative’s sole opinion, will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the NASDAQ 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 (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a 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 Representative’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Ordinary Shares, or (vii) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are materially breached, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of a Material Adverse Effect on 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 Representative’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Ordinary Shares or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Ordinary Shares. The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date if the Underwriters have materially breached any of their representations, warranties or obligations hereunder.
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9.3. 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 obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.11 hereof.
9.4. 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 effected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
10. Miscellaneous .
10.1. Notices . All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified mail (with return receipt), delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier, delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered, or faxed or transmitted (or if mailed, five days after such mailing):
If to the Representative:
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue
New
York, NY 10017
Fax No.: (212) 661-4936
Attn: Steven Levine
Email: slevine@ebcap.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Graubard Miller
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Fax No.: (212) 818-8881
Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
Email: dmiller@graubard.com
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June 19, 2017
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If to the Company, to:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
Fax No.: is +86 10 84446968, ext. 800
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong
Email: jamestong@bisoncapital.cn
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Attn: Arila Zhou
Email: AZhou@htflawyers.com
10.2. 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.
10.3. Amendment . This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
10.4. 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.
10.5. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives 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.
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June 19, 2017
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10.6. Governing Law, Venue, etc.
10.6.1. In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. The Company hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement. 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 the Effective Date.
10.6.2. THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) AND THE REPRESENTATIVE (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ALL UNDERWRITERS) HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.
10.6.3. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.
10.7. 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 fax or email/.pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
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10.8. Waiver, etc. 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.
10.9. No Fiduciary Relationship . The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Public Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm's length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters 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 Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Public Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim 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 and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Public 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 Underwriters 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.
[Signature Page Follows]
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June 19, 2017
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters 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, | ||
BISON CAPITAL Acquisition Corp. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: |
Chief
Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
June 19, 2017
Page 43 of 45
Agreed to and accepted
as of the date first written above:
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. , as Representative of the several Underwriters
By: | /s/ Steve Levine | |
Name: Steve Levine | ||
Title: CEO |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement, dated June 19, 2017]
SCHEDULE A
BISON CAPITAL Acquisition Corp.
5,250,000 Units
Underwriter |
Number of Firm Units to be Purchased |
|||
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. | 4,400,000 | |||
Chardan Capital Markets, LLC | 500,000 | |||
I-Bankers Securities, Inc. | 350,000 | |||
TOTAL | 5,250,000 |
SCHEDULE B
Investor Presentation Dated May 2017
EXHIBIT A
Form of Target Business Letter
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated June 19, 2017 (the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $53,812,500, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “ Claim ”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
Print Name of Target Business | |
Authorized Signature of Target Business |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Vendor Letter
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), dated June 19, 2017 (the “ Prospectus ”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $53,812,500, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “ Claim ”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
Print Name of Vendor | |
Authorized Signature of Vendor |
Exhibit 1.2
Execution Version
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
366 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
June 19, 2017
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is to confirm our agreement whereby Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company (“Company”), has requested EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Advisor”) to assist it in connection with the Company merging with, acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination (in each case, a “Business Combination”) with one or more businesses or entities (each a “Target”), as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218404) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Registration Statement”) in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”).
1. Services and Fees .
(a) The Advisor will:
(i) | Hold meetings with Company stockholders to discuss the Business Combination and the Target’s attributes; |
(ii) | Introduce the Company to potential investors to purchase the Company’s securities; |
(iii) | Assist the Company in trying to obtain shareholder approval for the Business Combination or in minimizing the number of tenders in a tender offer, including assistance with the Company’s proxy statement or tender offer materials; and |
(iv) | Assist the Company with any press releases and filings related to the Business Combination or the Target. |
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(b) As compensation for the foregoing services, the Company will pay the Advisor a cash fee equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of the IPO (“Fee”). The Fee is due and payable to the Advisor by wire transfer at the closing of the Business Combination (“Closing”). If a proposed Business Combination is not consummated for any reason, no Fee shall be due or payable to the Advisor hereunder. The Fee shall be exclusive of any finder’s fees which may become payable to the Advisor pursuant to any subsequent agreement between the Advisor and either of the Company or the Target.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fee will be reduced by an amount equal to 2% of the dollar amount of purchases of the Company’s ordinary shares by investors introduced to the Company by its sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates following announcement by the Company of a proposed initial Business Combination, where such investors hold the purchased ordinary shares through the vote on such Business Combination and do not seek conversion of their shares in connection with such proposed Business Combination; provided, however, that the Fee will not be reduced by more than $500,000.
2. Expenses .
At the Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Advisor for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Advisor (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with the performance of its services hereunder; provided, however, all expenses in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3. Company Cooperation .
The Company will cooperate with the Advisor as may be necessary for the efficient performance by the Advisor of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, providing to the Advisor and its counsel, on a timely basis, all documents and information regarding the Company and Target that the Advisor may reasonably request or that are otherwise relevant to the Advisor’s performance of its obligations hereunder (collectively, the “Information”); making the Company’s management, auditors, suppliers, customers, consultants and advisors available to the Advisor; and, using commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Advisor with reasonable access to the management, auditors, suppliers, customers, consultants and advisors of Target. The Company will promptly notify the Advisor of any change in facts or circumstances or new developments affecting the Company or Target or that might reasonably be considered material to the Advisor’s engagement hereunder.
4. Representations; Warranties and Covenants .
The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Advisor that all Information it makes available to the Advisor by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date thereof and as of the consummation of the Business Combination.
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5. Indemnity .
The Company shall indemnify the Advisor and its affiliates and directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents in accordance with the indemnification provisions set forth in Annex I hereto, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and Annex 1, the Advisor agrees, if there is no Closing, (i) that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Company’s trust account (“Trust Account”) established in connection with the IPO; (ii) to waive any claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company hereunder; and (iii) the Advisor will not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the Fee or its expenses hereunder.
6. Use of Name and Reports .
Without the Advisor’s prior written consent, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (nor any director, officer, manager, partner, member, employee or agent thereof) shall quote or refer to (i) the Advisor’s name, (ii) any advice rendered by the Advisor to the Company, or (iii) any communication from the Advisor in connection with performance of its services hereunder, except as required by applicable federal or state law, regulation or securities exchange rule.
7. Status as Independent Contractor .
The Advisor shall perform its services as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the Company or affiliate thereof. It is expressly understood and agreed to by the parties that the Advisor shall have no authority to act for, represent or bind the Company or any affiliate thereof in any manner, except as may be expressly agreed to by the Company in writing. In rendering such services, the Advisor will be acting solely pursuant to a contractual relationship on an arm’s-length basis. This Agreement is not intended to create a fiduciary relationship between the parties and neither the Advisor nor any of the Advisor’s officers, directors or personnel will owe any fiduciary duty to the Company or any other person in connection with any of the matters contemplated by this Agreement.
8. Potential Conflicts .
The Company acknowledges that the Advisor is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities and providing investment banking and advisory services from which conflicting interests may arise. In the ordinary course of business, the Advisor and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of customers, in debt or equity securities of the Company, its affiliates or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated hereby. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or restrict the Advisor or any of its affiliates in conducting such business, subject to applicable securities laws.
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9. Entire Agreement .
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally or in any manner other than by an agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.
10. Notices .
Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when mailed by certified mail or private courier service, return receipt requested, addressed to each party at its respective addresses set forth above, or such other address as may be given by a party in a notice given pursuant to this Section.
11. Successors and Assigns .
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, except where prohibited, to their successors and assigns.
12. Non-Exclusivity .
Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the engagement by the Company of other consultants providing the same or similar services or the payment by the Company of fees to such parties. The Company’s engagement of any other consultant(s) shall not affect the Advisor’s right to receive the Fee and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement.
13. Applicable Law; Venue .
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflict of laws.
In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, then and in such event, each party hereto agrees that the dispute shall either be (i) resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or (ii) brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in each event at the discretion of the party initiating the dispute. Once a party files a dispute (if arbitration, by sending JAMS a Demand for Arbitration) with one of the above forums, the parties agree that all issues regarding such dispute or this Agreement must be resolved before such forum rather than seeking to resolve it through another alternative forum set forth above.
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In the event the dispute is brought before the AAA, the arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel. Each of the parties agrees that the decision and/or award made by the arbitrators shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. Furthermore, the parties to any such arbitration shall be entitled to make one motion for summary judgment within 60 days of the commencement of the arbitration, which shall be decided by the arbitrators prior to the commencement of the hearings.
In the event the dispute is brought by a party in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, each party irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each party hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon a party may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party being served in any action, proceeding or claim. The parties agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.
The Company hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement. 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.
14. Counterparts .
This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
[Signature page follows]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the by Advisor and the Company with respect to the foregoing, please so indicate your agreement by signing in the place provided below, at which time this letter shall become a binding contract.
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steve Levine | |
Name: | Steve Levine | |
Title: | CEO |
[Advisory’s Signature Page to Business Combination Marketing Agreement]
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AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, | |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
[Company’s Signature Page to Business Combination Marketing Agreement]
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ANNEX I
Indemnification
In connection with the Company’s engagement of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Advisor”) pursuant to that certain letter agreement (“Agreement”) of which this Annex forms a part, Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) hereby agrees, subject to the second paragraph of Section 5 of the Agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless the Advisor and its affiliates and its respective directors, officers, shareholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of shareholders), damages, liabilities and reasonable expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred, (collectively a “Claim”), that (A) are related to or arise out of (i) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (including any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company relating to the Company’s engagement of the Advisor under this Agreement, or (ii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisor, or (B) otherwise related to or arise out of the Advisor’s activities on the Company’s behalf under the Advisor’s engagement, and the Company shall reimburse any Indemnified Person for all expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether or not in connection with pending or threatened litigation in which any Indemnified Person is a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any Claim that is finally judicially determined to have resulted from the breach of the Agreement, fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person. The Company further agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company for or in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisor except for any Claim incurred by the Company as a result of such Indemnified Person’s breach of the Agreement, fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The Company further agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Advisor, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional, irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of a judgment of any claim against any Indemnified Person if made without the Company’s prior written consent. No Indemnified Person seeking indemnification, reimbursement or contribution under this Annex will, without the Company’s prior written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding referred to in the preceding paragraph unless such Indemnified Person releases the Company from all liability.
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Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except if the Company or any relevant defense is prejudiced thereby. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Upon receipt of notice from the Company to such Indemnified Person of the Company’s election so to assume the defense of the relevant proceeding, the Company will not be liable to such Indemnified Person for expenses incurred by any Indemnified Person in connection with the defense thereof. In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company that cannot be made, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, provided that the Company shall be required to pay only one separate counsel for all Indemnified Persons. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect, without reasonable cause, that results in failure against such Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be fully indemnified by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and the reasonable amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof.
In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense. Any counsel of the Indemnified Persons shall, to the extent consistent with its professional responsibilities, cooperate with the Company and any counsel designated by the Company, as applicable. The Indemnified Persons shall cooperate with the Company in any defense.
The Company agrees that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not the Advisor is an Indemnified Person), the Company and the Advisor shall contribute to the Claim for which such indemnity is held unavailable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, in connection with the Advisor’s engagement referred to above, subject to the limitation that in no event shall the amount of the Advisor’s contribution to such Claim exceed the amount of fees actually received by the Advisor from the Company pursuant to the Advisor’s engagement. The Company hereby agrees that the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, with respect to the Advisor’s engagement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or proposed to be paid or received by the Company or its shareholders as the case may be, pursuant to the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Advisor is engaged to render services bears to (b) the fee paid or proposed to be paid to the Advisor in connection with such engagement.
The Company’s indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations under this Agreement (a) shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law or at equity and (b) shall be effective whether or not the Company is at fault in any way.
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Exhibit 3.1
TERRITORY OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BVI BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT 2004
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
a company limited by shares
Amended and restated on 19 June 2017
1 | NAME |
The name of the Company is Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
2 | STATUS |
The Company shall be a company limited by shares.
3 | REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT |
3.1 | The first registered office of the Company is at Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, the office of the first registered agent. |
3.2 | The first registered agent of the Company is Harneys Corporate Services Limited of Craigmuir Chambers, P.O. Box 71, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. |
3.3 | The Company may change its registered office or registered agent by a Resolution of Directors or a Resolution of Members. The change shall take effect upon the Registrar registering a notice of change filed under section 92 of the Act. |
4 | CAPACITY AND POWER |
4.1 | The Company has, subject to the Act and any other British Virgin Islands legislation for the time being in force, irrespective of corporate benefit: |
(a) | full capacity to carry on or undertake any business or activity, do any act or enter into any transaction; and |
(b) | for the purposes of paragraph (a), full rights, powers and privileges. |
4.2 | There are subject to Clause 4.1 and Regulation 23, no limitations on the business that the Company may carry on. |
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5 | NUMBER AND CLASSES OF SHARES |
5.1 | The Company is authorised to issue an unlimited number of shares of no par value divided into six classes of shares as follows: |
(a) | Ordinary shares of no par value ( Ordinary Shares ); |
(b) | Class A preferred shares of no par value ( Class A Preferred Shares ); |
(c) | Class B preferred shares of no par value ( Class B Preferred Shares ); |
(d) | Class C preferred shares of no par value ( Class C Preferred Shares ); |
(e) | Class D preferred shares of no par value ( Class D Preferred Shares ); and |
(f) | Class E preferred shares of no par value ( Class E Preferred Shares and together with the Class A Preferred Shares, the Class B Preferred Shares, Class C Preferred Shares and the Class D Preferred Shares being referred to as the Preferred Shares ). |
5.2 | The Company may at the discretion of the Board of Directors, but shall not otherwise be obliged to, issue fractional Shares or round up or down fractional holdings of Shares to its nearest whole number and a fractional Share (if authorised by the Board of Directors) may have the corresponding fractional rights, obligations and liabilities of a whole share of the same class or series of shares. |
6 | DESIGNATIONS POWERS PREFERENCES OF SHARES |
6.1 | Each Ordinary Share in the Company confers upon the Member (unless waived by such Member): |
(a) | subject to Clause 11, the right to one vote at a meeting of the Members of the Company or on any Resolution of Members; |
(b) | if such Ordinary Share is a Public Share, the right to be redeemed on an Automatic Redemption Event in accordance with Regulation 23.2 or pursuant to either a Tender Redemption Offer or Redemption Offer in accordance with Regulation 23.5 or pursuant to an Amendment Redemption Event in accordance with Regulation 23.11; |
(c) | the right to an equal share with each other Ordinary Share in any dividend paid by the Company; and |
(d) | subject to satisfaction of and compliance with Regulation 23, the right to an equal share with each other Ordinary Share in the distribution of the surplus assets of the Company on its liquidation. |
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6.2 | The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares shall be stated in this Memorandum, which shall be amended accordingly prior to the issue of such Preferred Shares. Such rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions may include: |
(a) | the number of shares and series constituting that class and the distinctive designation of that class; |
(b) | the dividend rate of the Preferred Shares of that class, if any, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and whether they shall be payable in preference to, or in relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes of Preferred Shares; |
(c) | whether that class shall have voting rights, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights; |
(d) | whether that class shall have conversion or exchange privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine; |
(e) | whether or not the Preferred Shares of that class shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the manner of selecting Shares for redemption if less than all Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount maybe less than fair value and which may vary under different conditions and at different dates; |
(f) | whether that class shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of Preferred Shares of that class, and, if so, the terms and amounts of such sinking fund; |
(g) | the right of the Preferred Shares of that class to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary, upon the issue of any additional Preferred Shares or other Shares (including additional Preferred Shares of such class of any other class) and upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or any subsidiary of any outstanding Preferred Shares of the Company; |
(h) | the right of the Preferred Shares of that class in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and whether such rights be in preference to, or in relation to, the comparable rights or any other class or classes of Shares; and |
(i) | any other relative, participating, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of that class. |
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6.3 | The Directors may at their discretion by Resolution of Directors redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire all or any of the Shares in the Company subject to Regulation 6 and Regulation 23 of the Articles. |
6.4 | The Directors have the authority and the power by Resolution of Directors: |
(a) | to authorise and create additional classes of shares; and |
(b) | (subject to the provisions of Clause 6.2) to fix the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, if any, appertaining to any and all classes of shares that may be authorised to be issued under this Memorandum. |
7 | VARIATION OF RIGHTS |
7.1 | Unless the proposed variation is for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination, prior to a Business Combination but subject always to the limitations set out in Clause 11 in respect of amendments to the Memorandum and Articles, the rights attached to the Ordinary Shares as specified in Clause 6.1 may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a resolution passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Members of the Company holding Ordinary Shares by the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the total number of Ordinary Shares that are present and have voted (and are entitled to vote thereon) in relation to such resolution at such meeting (or alternatively by a resolution consented to in writing by holders of sixty-five percent of the votes of all Ordinary Shares entitled to vote thereon), unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of such class. |
7.2 | In the case of a proposed variation that (a) is for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination; or (b) is after the consummation of a Business Combination, the rights attached to the Ordinary Shares as specified in Clause 6.1 may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a resolution passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Members of the Company holding Ordinary Shares by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of Ordinary Shares that are present and have voted (and are entitled to vote thereon) in relation to such resolution at such meeting (or alternatively by a resolution consented to in writing by holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes of all Ordinary Shares entitled to vote thereon), unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of such class. |
7.3 | The rights attached to any class of Preferred Shares in issue as specified in Clause 6.2 may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a resolution passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Members of the Company holding Preferred Shares in such class by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Preferred Shares of that same class present and voting (and entitled to vote thereon) in relation to such resolution at such meeting (or alternatively by a resolution consented to in writing by holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes of all Preferred Shares of the relevant class entitled to vote thereon), unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of such class. |
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8 | RIGHTS NOT VARIED BY THE ISSUE OF SHARES PARI PASSU |
The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith.
9 | REGISTERED SHARES |
9.1 | The Company shall issue registered shares only. |
9.2 | The Company is not authorised to issue bearer shares, convert registered shares to bearer shares or exchange registered shares for bearer shares. |
10 | TRANSFER OF SHARES |
A Share may be transferred in accordance with Regulation 4 of the Articles.
11 | AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES |
11.1 | The Company may amend its Memorandum or Articles by a Resolution of Members or by a Resolution of Directors, save that no amendment may be made by a Resolution of Directors: |
(a) | to restrict the rights or powers of the Members to amend the Memorandum or Articles; |
(b) | to change the percentage of Members required to pass a Resolution of Members to amend the Memorandum or Articles; |
(c) | in circumstances where the Memorandum or Articles cannot be amended by the Members; or |
(d) | to change Clauses 6.1, 7 or 8, this Clause 11 or Regulation 23 (or any of the defined terms used in any such Clause or Regulation). |
11.2 | Notwithstanding Clause 11.1, no amendment may be made to the Memorandum or Articles by a Resolution of Members to amend: |
(a) | Regulation 23 prior to the Business Combination that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations as described in this Regulation 23 to pay or to offer to pay the Per-Share Redemption Price to any holder of the Public Shares unless the holders of the Public Shares are provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment in the manner and for the price as set out in Regulation 23.11; or |
(b) | this Regulation 11.2 during the Target Business Acquisition Period. |
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12 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
12.1 | In this Memorandum of Association and the attached Articles of Association, if not inconsistent with the subject or context: |
(a) | Act means the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 and includes the regulations made under the Act; |
(b) | AGM means an annual general meeting of the Members; |
(c) | Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.11; |
(d) | Amendment Redemption Event has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.11; |
(e) | Approved Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.11; |
(f) | Articles means the attached Articles of Association of the Company; |
(g) | Automatic Redemption Event shall have the meaning given to it in Regulation 23.2; |
(h) | Board of Directors means the board of directors of the Company; |
(i) | Business Combination shall mean the initial acquisition by the Company, whether through a merger, share reconstruction or amalgamation, asset or share acquisition, exchangeable share transaction, contractual control arrangement or other similar type of transaction, with a Target Business at Fair Value; |
(j) | Business Combination Articles means Regulation 23 relating to the Company's obligations regarding the consummation of a Business Combination; |
(k) | Business Days means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York are required or are authorised to be closed for business; |
(l) | Chairman means a person who is appointed as chairman to preside at a meeting of the Company and Chairman of the Board means a person who is appointed as chairman to preside at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company, in each case, in accordance with the Articles; |
(m) | Class A Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(n) | Class B Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(o) | Class C Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(p) | Class D Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(q) | Class E Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
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(r) | Class I Directors has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 9.1(b); |
(s) | Class II Directors has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 9.1(b); |
(t) | Designated Stock Exchange means the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, the Global Select System, Global System or the Capital Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the NYSE MKT or the New York Stock Exchange, as applicable; provided, however, that until the Shares are listed on any such Designated Stock Exchange, the rules of such Designated Stock Exchange shall be inapplicable to the Company and this Memorandum or the Articles; |
(u) | Director means any director of the Company, from time to time; |
(v) | Distribution in relation to a distribution by the Company means the direct or indirect transfer of an asset, other than Shares, to or for the benefit of a Member in relation to Shares held by a Member, and whether by means of a purchase of an asset, the redemption or other acquisition of Shares, a distribution of indebtedness or otherwise, and includes a dividend; |
(w) | Eligible Person means individuals, corporations, trusts, the estates of deceased individuals, partnerships and unincorporated associations of persons; |
(x) | Enterprise means the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which an Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Director, Officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent; |
(y) | Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
(z) | Expenses shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all legal fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses, in each case reasonably incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, including reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses shall also include any or all of the foregoing expenses incurred in connection with all judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred (whether by an Indemnitee, or on his behalf) in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, or any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, but shall not include amounts paid in settlement by an Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against an Indemnitee; |
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(aa) | Fair Value shall mean a value at least equal to 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any taxes payable thereon) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination; |
(bb) | FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the United States; |
(cc) | Initial Shareholder means the Sponsor, the Directors and officers of the Company or their respective affiliates who hold Shares prior to the IPO; |
(dd) | Indemnitee means any person detailed in sub regulations (a) and (b) of Regulation 15. |
(ee) | Insider means any Officer, Director or pre-IPO shareholder (and their respective affiliates); |
(ff) | IPO means the initial public offering of units comprising of shares and warrants of the Company and rights to receive shares of the Company; |
(gg) | Member means an Eligible Person whose name is entered in the share register of the Company as the holder of one or more Shares or fractional Shares; |
(hh) | Memorandum means this Memorandum of Association of the Company; |
(ii) | Officer means any officer of the Company, from time to time; |
(jj) | Ordinary Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(kk) | Per-Share Redemption Price means: |
(i) | with respect to an Automatic Redemption Event or an Amendment Redemption Event, the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account (including any interest earned thereon not previously released to the Company for the payment of taxes) divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; and |
(ii) | with respect to either a Tender Redemption Offer or a Proxy Redemption Offer, the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account on the date that is two Business Days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (including any interest earned thereon not previously released to the Company for the payment of taxes), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; |
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(ll) | Proceeding means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the name of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which an Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee is or was a Director or Officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or of any action (or failure to act) on his part while acting as a Director, Officer, employee or adviser of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Director, Officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee, adviser or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under these Articles; |
(mm) | Public Shares means the Shares issued in the IPO; |
(nn) | Preferred Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 5.1; |
(oo) | Proxy Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.5(b)(ii); |
(pp) | Registration Statement has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.10; |
(qq) | relevant system means a relevant system for the holding and transfer of shares in uncertificated form; |
(rr) | Resolution of Directors means either: |
(i) | Subject to sub-paragraph (ii) below, a resolution approved at a duly convened and constituted meeting of Directors of the Company or of a committee of Directors of the Company by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present at the meeting who voted except that where a Director is given more than one vote, he shall be counted by the number of votes he casts for the purpose of establishing a majority; or |
(ii) | a resolution consented to in writing by all Directors or by all members of a committee of Directors of the Company, as the case may be; |
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(ss) | Resolution of Members means: |
(i) | prior to the consummation of a Business Combination in relation to any resolution seeking to amend or vary the rights of the Ordinary Shares (unless such amendment or variation is for the purposes or approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination), either (x) a resolution approved at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Members of the Company by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote thereon which were present at the meeting and were voted, or (y) a resolution consented to in writing by holders of sixty-five percent of the votes of all Shares entitled to vote thereon; or |
(ii) | in all other cases (including in relation to any resolution seeking to amend or vary the rights of the Ordinary Shares where such amendment or variation is for the purposes or approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination), either (x) a resolution approved at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Members of the Company by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote thereon which were present at the meeting and were voted, or (y) a resolution consented to in writing by holders of a majority of the votes of all the Shares entitled to vote thereon; or |
(tt) | Seal means any seal which has been duly adopted as the common seal of the Company; |
(uu) | SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; |
(vv) | Securities means Shares, other securities and debt obligations of every kind of the Company, and including without limitation options, warrants and rights to acquire or receive (including without additional consideration) shares or debt obligations; |
(ww) | Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
(xx) | Share means a share issued or to be issued by the Company and Shares shall be construed accordingly; |
(yy) | Sponsor means Bison Capital Holding Company Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands; |
(zz) | Target Business means any business or entity with whom the Company wishes to undertake a Business Combination; |
(aaa) | Target Business Acquisition Period shall mean the period commencing from the effectiveness of the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Company's IPO up to and including the first to occur of (i) a Business Combination; or (ii) the Termination Date. |
(bbb) | Tender Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Regulation 23.5(a); |
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(ccc) | Termination Date has the meaning given to it in Regulation 23.2; |
(ddd) | Treasury Share means a Share that was previously issued but was repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Company and not cancelled; |
(eee) | Trust Account shall mean the trust account established by the Company prior to the IPO and into which a certain amount of the IPO proceeds and the proceeds from a simultaneous private placement of like units comprising like securities to those in included in the IPO by the Company are deposited, interest on the balance of which may be released to the Company from to time to time to pay the Company’s income or other tax obligations or to meet its working capital requirements; and |
(fff) | written or any term of like import includes information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, biometric or photonic means, including electronic data interchange, electronic mail, telegram, telex or telecopy, and "in writing" shall be construed accordingly. |
12.2 | In the Memorandum and the Articles, unless the context otherwise requires a reference to: |
(a) | a Regulation is a reference to a regulation of the Articles; |
(b) | a Clause is a reference to a clause of the Memorandum; |
(c) | voting by Member is a reference to the casting of the votes attached to the Shares held by the Member voting; |
(d) | the Act, the Memorandum or the Articles is a reference to the Act or those documents as amended; and |
(e) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa. |
12.3 | Any words or expressions defined in the Act unless the context otherwise requires bear the same meaning in the Memorandum and Articles unless otherwise defined herein. |
12.4 | Headings are inserted for convenience only and shall be disregarded in interpreting the Memorandum and Articles. |
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Signed for HARNEYS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED of Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands for the purpose of incorporating a BVI Business Company under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on 07 October 2016.
Incorporator
…………………………………………………..
Indira Ward-Lewis
Authorised Signatory
HARNEYS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED
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TERRITORY OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BVI BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT 2004
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
a company limited by shares
Amended and restated on 19 June 2017
1 | REGISTERED SHARES |
1.1 | Every Member is entitled to a certificate signed by a Director of the Company or under the Seal specifying the number of Shares held by him and the signature of the Director and the Seal may be facsimiles. |
1.2 | Any Member receiving a certificate shall indemnify and hold the Company and its Directors and officers harmless from any loss or liability which it or they may incur by reason of any wrongful or fraudulent use or representation made by any person by virtue of the possession thereof. If a certificate for Shares is worn out or lost it may be renewed on production of the worn out certificate or on satisfactory proof of its loss together with such indemnity as may be required by a Resolution of Directors. |
1.3 | If several Eligible Persons are registered as joint holders of any Shares, any one of such Eligible Persons may give an effectual receipt for any Distribution. |
1.4 | Nothing in these Articles shall require title to any Shares or other Securities to be evidenced by a certificate if the Act and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange permit otherwise. |
1.5 | Subject to the Act and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Board of Directors without further consultation with the holders of any Shares or Securities may resolve that any class or series of Shares or other Securities in issue or to be issued from time to time may be issued, registered or converted to uncertificated form and the practices instituted by the operator of the relevant system. No provision of these Articles will apply to any uncertificated shares or Securities to the extent that they are inconsistent with the holding of such shares or securities in uncertificated form or the transfer of title to any such shares or securities by means of a relevant system. |
1.6 | Conversion of Shares held in certificated form into Shares held in uncertificated form, and vice versa, may be made in such manner as the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may think fit (subject always to the requirements of the relevant system concerned). The Company or any duly authorised transfer agent shall enter on the register of members how many Shares are held by each member in uncertificated form and certificated form and shall maintain the register of members in each case as is required by the relevant system concerned. Notwithstanding any provision of these Articles, a class or series of Shares shall not be treated as two classes by virtue only of that class or series comprising both certificated shares and uncertificated shares or as a result of any provision of these Articles which applies only in respect of certificated shares or uncertificated shares. |
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1.7 | Nothing contained in Regulation 1.5 and 1.6 is meant to prohibit the Shares from being able to trade electronically. For the avoidance of doubt, Shares shall only be traded and transferred electronically upon consummation of the IPO. |
2 | SHARES |
2.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the unissued Shares of the Company shall be at the disposal of the Directors and Shares and other Securities may be issued and option to acquire Shares or other Securities may be granted at such times, to such Eligible Persons, for such consideration and on such terms as the Directors may by Resolution of Directors determine. |
2.2 | Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing Preferred Shares or class of Preferred Shares, any class of Preferred Shares may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting or otherwise as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
2.3 | Section 46 of the Act does not apply to the Company. |
2.4 | A Share may be issued for consideration in any form, including money, a promissory note, real property, personal property (including goodwill and know-how) or a contract for future services. |
2.5 | No Shares may be issued for a consideration other than money, unless a Resolution of Directors has been passed stating: |
(a) | the amount to be credited for the issue of the Shares; and |
(b) | that, in their opinion, the present cash value of the non-money consideration for the issue is not less than the amount to be credited for the issue of the Shares. |
2.6 | The Company shall keep a register (the share register ) containing: |
(a) | the names and addresses of the persons who hold Shares; |
(b) | the number of each class and series of Shares held by each Member; |
(c) | the date on which the name of each Member was entered in the share register; and |
(d) | the date on which any Eligible Person ceased to be a Member. |
2.7 | The share register may be in any such form as the Directors may approve, but if it is in magnetic, electronic or other data storage form, the Company must be able to produce legible evidence of its contents. Until the Directors otherwise determine, the magnetic, electronic or other data storage form shall be the original share register. |
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2.8 | A Share is deemed to be issued when the name of the Member is entered in the share register. |
2.9 | Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Business Combination Articles, Shares may be issued on the terms that they are redeemable, or at the option of the Company be liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner as the Directors before or at the time of the issue of such Shares may determine. The Directors may issue options, warrants, rights or convertible securities or securities or a similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive (including without any additional consideration) any class of Shares or Securities on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors may also issue options, warrants, other rights to acquire or receive (including without additional consideration) shares or convertible securities in connection with the Company's IPO. |
3 | FORFEITURE |
3.1 | Shares that are not fully paid on issue are subject to the forfeiture provisions set forth in this Regulation and for this purpose Shares issued for a promissory note or a contract for future services are deemed to be not fully paid. |
3.2 | A written notice of call specifying the date for payment to be made shall be served on the Member who defaults in making payment in respect of the Shares. |
3.3 | The written notice of call referred to in Regulation 3.2 shall name a further date not earlier than the expiration of 14 days from the date of service of the notice on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made and shall contain a statement that in the event of non-payment at or before the time named in the notice the Shares, or any of them, in respect of which payment is not made will be liable to be forfeited. |
3.4 | Where a written notice of call has been issued pursuant to Regulation 3.2 and the requirements of the notice have not been complied with, the Directors may, at any time before tender of payment, forfeit and cancel the Shares to which the notice relates. |
3.5 | The Company is under no obligation to refund any moneys to the Member whose Shares have been cancelled pursuant to Regulation 3.4 and that Member shall be discharged from any further obligation to the Company. |
4 | TRANSFER OF SHARES |
4.1 | Subject to the Memorandum, certificated shares may be transferred by a written instrument of transfer signed by the transferor and containing the name and address of the transferee, which shall be sent to the Company for registration. A member shall be entitled to transfer uncertificated shares by means of a relevant system and the operator of the relevant system shall act as agent of the Members for the purposes of the transfer of such uncertificated shares. |
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4.2 | The transfer of a Share is effective when the name of the transferee is entered on the share register. |
4.3 | If the Directors of the Company are satisfied that an instrument of transfer relating to Shares has been signed but that the instrument has been lost or destroyed, they may resolve by Resolution of Directors: |
(a) | to accept such evidence of the transfer of Shares as they consider appropriate; and |
(b) | that the transferee's name should be entered in the share register notwithstanding the absence of the instrument of transfer. |
4.4 | Subject to the Memorandum, the personal representative of a deceased Member may transfer a Share even though the personal representative is not a Member at the time of the transfer. |
5 | DISTRIBUTIONS |
5.1 | Subject to the Business Combination Articles, the Directors of the Company may, by Resolution of Directors, authorise a distribution at a time and of an amount they think fit if they are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that, immediately after the distribution, the value of the Company's assets will exceed its liabilities and the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. |
5.2 | Dividends may be paid in money, shares, or other property. |
5.3 | The Company may, by Resolution of Directors, from time to time pay to the Members such interim dividends as appear to the Directors to be justified by the profits of the Company, provided always that they are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that, immediately after the distribution, the value of the Company's assets will exceed its liabilities and the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. |
5.4 | Notice in writing of any dividend that may have been declared shall be given to each Member in accordance with Regulation 21 and all dividends unclaimed for three years after such notice has been given to a Member may be forfeited by Resolution of Directors for the benefit of the Company. |
5.5 | No dividend shall bear interest as against the Company. |
6 | REDEMPTION OF SHARES AND TREASURY SHARES |
6.1 | The Company may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire and hold its own Shares save that the Company may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its own Shares without the consent of the Member whose Shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired unless the Company is permitted or required by the Act or any other provision in the Memorandum or Articles to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire the Shares without such consent. |
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6.2 | The purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of its own Shares is deemed not to be a distribution where: |
(a) | the Company purchases, redeems or otherwise acquires the Shares pursuant to a right of a Member to have his Shares redeemed or to have his shares exchanged for money or other property of the Company, or |
(b) | the Company purchases, redeems or otherwise acquires the Shares by virtue of the provisions of section 179 of the Act. |
6.3 | Sections 60, 61 and 62 of the Act shall not apply to the Company. |
6.4 | Subject to the provisions of Regulation 23, shares that the Company purchases, redeems or otherwise acquires pursuant to this Regulation may be cancelled or held as Treasury Shares except to the extent that such Shares are in excess of 50 percent of the issued Shares in which case they shall be cancelled but they shall be available for reissue. |
6.5 | All rights and obligations attaching to a Treasury Share are suspended and shall not be exercised by the Company while it holds the Share as a Treasury Share. |
6.6 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company on such terms and conditions (not otherwise inconsistent with the Memorandum and Articles) as the Company may by Resolution of Directors determine. |
6.7 | Where Shares are held by another body corporate of which the Company holds, directly or indirectly, shares having more than 50 per cent of the votes in the election of Directors of the other body corporate, all rights and obligations attaching to the Shares held by the other body corporate are suspended and shall not be exercised by the other body corporate. |
7 | MORTGAGES AND CHARGES OF SHARES |
7.1 | A Member may by an instrument in writing mortgage or charge his Shares. |
7.2 | There shall be entered in the share register at the written request of the Member: |
(a) | a statement that the Shares held by him are mortgaged or charged; |
(b) | the name of the mortgagee or chargee; and |
(c) | the date on which the particulars specified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) are entered in the share register. |
7.3 | Where particulars of a mortgage or charge are entered in the share register, such particulars may be cancelled: |
(a) | with the written consent of the named mortgagee or chargee or anyone authorised to act on his behalf; or |
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(b) | upon evidence satisfactory to the Directors of the discharge of the liability secured by the mortgage or charge and the issue of such indemnities as the Directors shall consider necessary or desirable. |
7.4 | Whilst particulars of a mortgage or charge over Shares are entered in the share register pursuant to this Regulation: |
(a) | no transfer of any Share the subject of those particulars shall be effected; |
(b) | the Company may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such Share; and |
(c) | no replacement certificate shall be issued in respect of such Shares, |
without the written consent of the named mortgagee or chargee.
8 | MEETINGS AND CONSENTS OF MEMBERS |
8.1 | Any Director of the Company may convene meetings of the Members at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the British Virgin Islands as the Director considers necessary or desirable. Following consummation of the Business Combination, an AGM shall be held annually at such date and time as may be determined by the Directors. |
8.2 | Upon the written request of the Members entitled to exercise 30 percent or more of the voting rights in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested the Directors shall convene a meeting of Members. |
8.3 | The Director convening a meeting of Members shall give not less than 10 nor more than 60 days' written notice of such meeting to: |
(a) | those Members whose names on the date the notice is given appear as Members in the share register of the Company and are entitled to vote at the meeting; and |
(b) | the other Directors. |
8.4 | The Director convening a meeting of Members shall fix in the notice of the meeting the record date for determining those Members that are entitled to vote at the meeting. |
8.5 | A meeting of Members held in contravention of the requirement to give notice is valid if Members holding at least 90 per cent of the total voting rights on all the matters to be considered at the meeting have waived notice of the meeting and, for this purpose, the presence of a Member at the meeting shall constitute waiver in relation to all the Shares which that Member holds. |
8.6 | The inadvertent failure of a Director who convenes a meeting to give notice of a meeting to a Member or another Director, or the fact that a Member or another Director has not received notice, does not invalidate the meeting. |
8.7 | A Member may be represented at a meeting of Members by a proxy who may speak and vote on behalf of the Member. |
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8.8 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be produced at the place designated for the meeting before the time for holding the meeting at which the person named in such instrument proposes to vote. |
8.9 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in substantially the following form or such other form as the chairman of the meeting shall accept as properly evidencing the wishes of the Member appointing the proxy. |
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
I/We being a Member of the above Company HEREBY APPOINT ……………………………………………………………………………..…… of ……………………………………...……….…………..………… or failing him …..………………………………………………….…………………….. of ………………………………………………………..…..…… to be my/our proxy to vote for me/us at the meeting of Members to be held on the …… day of …………..…………, 20…… and at any adjournment thereof.
(Any restrictions on voting to be inserted here.)
Signed this …… day of …………..…………, 20……
……………………………
Member
8.10 | The following applies where Shares are jointly owned: |
(a) | if two or more persons hold Shares jointly each of them may be present in person or by proxy at a meeting of Members and may speak as a Member; |
(b) | if only one of the joint owners is present in person or by proxy he may vote on behalf of all joint owners; and |
(c) | if two or more of the joint owners are present in person or by proxy they must vote as one and in the event of disagreement between any of the joint owners of Shares then the vote of the joint owner whose name appears first (or earliest) in the share register in respect of the relevant Shares shall be recorded as the vote attributable to the Shares. |
8.11 | A Member shall be deemed to be present at a meeting of Members if he participates by telephone or other electronic means and all Members participating in the meeting are able to hear each other. |
8.12 | A meeting of Members is duly constituted if, at the commencement of the meeting, there are present in person or by proxy not less than 50 per cent of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote on Resolutions of Members to be considered at the meeting. If the Company has two or more classes of shares, a meeting may be quorate for some purposes and not for others. A quorum may comprise a single Member or proxy and then such person may pass a Resolution of Members and a certificate signed by such person accompanied where such person holds a proxy by a copy of the proxy instrument shall constitute a valid Resolution of Members. |
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8.13 | If within two hours from the time appointed for the meeting of Members, a quorum is not present, the meeting, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall either be dissolved or stand adjourned to a business day in the jurisdiction in which the meeting was to have been held at the same time and place, and if at the adjourned meeting there are present within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting in person or by proxy not less than one third of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote or each class or series of Shares entitled to vote, as applicable, on the matters to be considered by the meeting, those present shall constitute a quorum but otherwise the meeting shall either be dissolved or stand further adjourned at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. |
8.14 | At every meeting of Members, the Chairman of the Board shall preside as chairman of the meeting. If there is no Chairman of the Board or if the Chairman of the Board is not present at the meeting, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be the chairman. If the Members are unable to choose a chairman for any reason, then the person representing the greatest number of voting Shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting shall preside as chairman failing which the oldest individual Member or representative of a Member present shall take the chair. |
8.15 | The person appointed as chairman of the meeting pursuant to Regulation 8.14 may adjourn any meeting from time to time, and from place to place. For the avoidance of doubt, a meeting can be adjourned for as many times as may be determined to be necessary by the chairman and a meeting may remain open indefinitely for as long a period as may be determined by the chairman. |
8.16 | At any meeting of the Members the chairman of the meeting is responsible for deciding in such manner as he considers appropriate whether any resolution proposed has been carried or not and the result of his decision shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If the chairman has any doubt as to the outcome of the vote on a proposed resolution, he shall cause a poll to be taken of all votes cast upon such resolution. If the chairman fails to take a poll then any Member present in person or by proxy who disputes the announcement by the chairman of the result of any vote may immediately following such announcement demand that a poll be taken and the chairman shall cause a poll to be taken. If a poll is taken at any meeting, the result shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. |
8.17 | Subject to the specific provisions contained in this Regulation for the appointment of representatives of Members other than individuals the right of any individual to speak for or represent a Member shall be determined by the law of the jurisdiction where, and by the documents by which, the Member is constituted or derives its existence. In case of doubt, the Directors may in good faith seek legal advice and unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction shall otherwise rule, the Directors may rely and act upon such advice without incurring any liability to any Member or the Company. |
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8.18 | Any Member other than an individual may by resolution of its Directors or other governing body authorise such individual as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of Members or of any class of Members, and the individual so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same rights on behalf of the Member which he represents as that Member could exercise if it were an individual. |
8.19 | The chairman of any meeting at which a vote is cast by proxy or on behalf of any Member other than an individual may at the meeting but not thereafter call for a notarially certified copy of such proxy or authority which shall be produced within 7 days of being so requested or the votes cast by such proxy or on behalf of such Member shall be disregarded. |
8.20 | Directors of the Company may attend and speak at any meeting of Members and at any separate meeting of the holders of any class or series of Shares. |
8.21 | Any action that may be taken by the Members at a meeting may also be taken by a Resolution of Members consented to in writing, without the need for any prior notice. If any Resolution of Members is adopted otherwise than by the unanimous written consent of all Members, a copy of such resolution shall forthwith be sent to all Members not consenting to such resolution. The consent may be in the form of counterparts, each counterpart being signed by one or more Members. If the consent is in one or more counterparts, and the counterparts bear different dates, then the resolution shall take effect on the earliest date upon which Eligible Persons holding a sufficient number of votes of Shares to constitute a Resolution of Members have consented to the resolution by signed counterparts. |
9 | DIRECTORS |
9.1 | The first Directors of the Company shall be appointed by the first registered agent within 30 days of the incorporation of the Company; and thereafter, the Directors shall be elected: |
(a) | subject to Regulation 9.1 (b), by Resolution of Members or by Resolution of Directors for such term as the Members or Directors determine; |
(b) | immediately prior to the consummation of an IPO, the Directors shall pass a Resolution of Directors dividing themselves into two classes, being the class I directors (the Class I Directors ) and the class II directors (the Class II Directors ). The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. The Class I Directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company's first AGM and the Class II Directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company's second AGM. Commencing at the Company’s first AGM, and at each following AGM, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the second AGM following their election. Except as the Act or any applicable law may otherwise require, in the interim between an AGM or general meeting called for the election of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors any vacancy on the Board of Directors, may be filled by the majority vote of the remaining Directors. |
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9.2 | No person shall be appointed as a Director of the Company unless he has consented in writing to act as a Director. |
9.3 | The minimum number of Directors shall be one and there shall be no maximum number of Directors. |
9.4 | Each Director holds office for the term, if any, fixed by the Resolution of Members or Resolution of Directors appointing him, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal (provided that no director may be removed by a Resolution of Members prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination). If no term is fixed on the appointment of a Director, the Director serves indefinitely until his earlier death, resignation or removal. |
9.5 | A Director may be removed from office with or without cause by: |
(a) | (following the consummation of the initial Business Combination but not at any time before) a Resolution of Members passed at a meeting of Members called for the purposes of removing the Director or for purposes including the removal of the Director; or |
(b) | subject to Regulation 9.1 (b), a Resolution of Directors passed at a meeting of Directors. |
9.6 | A Director may resign his office by giving written notice of his resignation to the Company and the resignation has effect from the date the notice is received by the Company at the office of its registered agent or from such later date as may be specified in the notice. A Director shall resign forthwith as a Director if he is, or becomes, disqualified from acting as a Director under the Act. |
9.7 | Subject to Regulation 9.1 (b), the Directors may at any time appoint any person to be a Director either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors. Where the Directors appoint a person as Director to fill a vacancy, the term shall not exceed the term that remained when the person who has ceased to be a Director ceased to hold office. |
9.8 | A vacancy in relation to Directors occurs if a Director dies or otherwise ceases to hold office prior to the expiration of his term of office. |
9.9 | The Company shall keep a register of Directors containing: |
(a) | the names and addresses of the persons who are Directors of the Company; |
(b) | the date on which each person whose name is entered in the register was appointed as a Director of the Company; |
(c) | the date on which each person named as a Director ceased to be a Director of the Company; and |
(d) | such other information as may be prescribed by the Act. |
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9.10 | The register of Directors may be kept in any such form as the Directors may approve, but if it is in magnetic, electronic or other data storage form, the Company must be able to produce legible evidence of its contents. Until a Resolution of Directors determining otherwise is passed, the magnetic, electronic or other data storage shall be the original register of Directors. |
9.11 | The Directors, or if the Shares (or depository receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, any committee thereof, may, by a Resolution of Directors, fix the emoluments of Directors with respect to services to be rendered in any capacity to the Company. |
9.12 | A Director is not required to hold a Share as a qualification to office. |
9.13 | Prior to the consummation of any transaction with: |
(a) | any affiliate of the Company; |
(b) | any Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant influence over the Company; |
(c) | any Director or executive officer of the Company and any relative of such Director or executive officer; and |
(d) | any person in which a substantial interest in the voting power of the Company is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person referred to in Regulations 9.13(b) and (c) or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence, |
such transaction must be approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, such directors having been provided with access (at the Company's expense) to the Company's attorney or independent legal counsel, unless the disinterested directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favourable to the Company than those that would be available to the Company with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
10 | POWERS OF DIRECTORS |
10.1 | The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by, or under the direction or supervision of, the Directors of the Company. The Directors of the Company have all the powers necessary for managing, and for directing and supervising, the business and affairs of the Company. The Directors may pay all expenses incurred preliminary to and in connection with the incorporation of the Company and may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not by the Act or by the Memorandum or the Articles required to be exercised by the Members. |
10.2 | If the Company is the wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company, a Director of the Company may, when exercising powers or performing duties as a Director, act in a manner which he believes is in the best interests of the holding company even though it may not be in the best interests of the Company. |
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10.3 | Each Director shall exercise his powers for a proper purpose and shall not act or agree to the Company acting in a manner that contravenes the Memorandum, the Articles or the Act. Each Director, in exercising his powers or performing his duties, shall act honestly and in good faith in what the Director believes to be the best interests of the Company. |
10.4 | Any Director which is a body corporate may appoint any individual as its duly authorised representative for the purpose of representing it at meetings of the Directors, with respect to the signing of consents or otherwise. |
10.5 | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body. |
10.6 | Subject to Regulation 23.7, the Directors may by Resolution of Directors exercise all the powers of the Company to incur indebtedness, liabilities or obligations and to secure indebtedness, liabilities or obligations whether of the Company or of any third party. |
10.7 | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by Resolution of Directors. |
10.8 | Section 175 of the Act shall not apply to the Company. |
11 | PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS |
11.1 | Any one Director of the Company may call a meeting of the Directors by sending a written notice to each other Director. |
11.2 | The Directors of the Company or any committee thereof may meet at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the British Virgin Islands as the notice calling the meeting provides. |
11.3 | A Director is deemed to be present at a meeting of Directors if he participates by telephone or other electronic means and all Directors participating in the meeting are able to hear each other. |
11.4 | Until the consummation of a Business Combination, a Director may not appoint an alternate. Following the consummation of a Business Combination, a Director may by a written instrument appoint an alternate who need not be a Director, any such alternate shall be entitled to attend meetings in the absence of the Director who appointed him and to vote or consent in place of the Director until the appointment lapses or is terminated. |
11.5 | A Director shall be given not less than three days' notice of meetings of Directors, but a meeting of Directors held without three days' notice having been given to all Directors shall be valid if all the Directors entitled to vote at the meeting who do not attend waive notice of the meeting, and for this purpose the presence of a Director at a meeting shall constitute waiver by that Director. The inadvertent failure to give notice of a meeting to a Director, or the fact that a Director has not received the notice, does not invalidate the meeting. |
11.6 | A meeting of Directors is duly constituted for all purposes if at the commencement of the meeting there are present in person or, following the consummation of a Business Combination, by alternate not less than one-half of the total number of Directors, unless there are only two Directors in which case the quorum is two. |
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11.7 | If the Company has only one Director the provisions herein contained for meetings of Directors do not apply and such sole Director has full power to represent and act for the Company in all matters as are not by the Act, the Memorandum or the Articles required to be exercised by the Members. In lieu of minutes of a meeting the sole Director shall record in writing and sign a note or memorandum of all matters requiring a Resolution of Directors. Such a note or memorandum constitutes sufficient evidence of such resolution for all purposes. |
11.8 | At meetings of Directors at which the Chairman of the Board is present, he shall preside as chairman of the meeting. If there is no Chairman of the Board or if the Chairman of the Board is not present, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. If the Directors are unable to choose a chairman for any reason, then the oldest individual Director present (and for this purpose an alternate Director shall be deemed to be the same age as the Director that he represents) shall take the chair. |
11.9 | An action that may be taken by the Directors or a committee of Directors at a meeting may also be taken by a Resolution of Directors or a resolution of a committee of Directors consented to in writing by all Directors or by all members of the committee, as the case may be, without the need for any notice. The consent may be in the form of counterparts each counterpart being signed by one or more Directors. If the consent is in one or more counterparts, and the counterparts bear different dates, then the resolution shall take effect on the date upon which the last Director has consented to the resolution by signed counterparts. |
12 | COMMITTEES |
12.1 | The Directors may, by Resolution of Directors, designate one or more committees, each consisting of one or more Directors, and delegate one or more of their powers, including the power to affix the Seal, to the committee. |
12.2 | The Directors have no power to delegate to a committee of Directors any of the following powers: |
(a) | to amend the Memorandum or the Articles; |
(b) | to designate committees of Directors; |
(c) | to delegate powers to a committee of Directors; |
(d) | to appoint Directors; |
(e) | to appoint an agent; |
(f) | to approve a plan of merger, consolidation or arrangement; or |
(g) | to make a declaration of solvency or to approve a liquidation plan. |
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12.3 | Regulations 12.2(b) and (c) do not prevent a committee of Directors, where authorised by the Resolution of Directors appointing such committee or by a subsequent Resolution of Directors, from appointing a sub-committee and delegating powers exercisable by the committee to the sub-committee. |
12.4 | The meetings and proceedings of each committee of Directors consisting of 2 or more Directors shall be governed mutatis mutandis by the provisions of the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors so far as the same are not superseded by any provisions in the Resolution of Directors establishing the committee. |
13 | OFFICERS AND AGENTS |
13.1 | The Company may by Resolution of Directors appoint officers of the Company at such times as may be considered necessary or expedient. Such officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer (in each case there may be more than one of such officers), one or more vice-presidents, secretaries and treasurers and such other officers as may from time to time be considered necessary or expedient. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. |
13.2 | The officers shall perform such duties as are prescribed at the time of their appointment subject to any modification in such duties as may be prescribed thereafter by Resolution of Directors. In the absence of any specific prescription of duties it shall be the responsibility of the Chairman of the Board (or Co-Chairman, as the case may be) to preside at meetings of Directors and Members, the Chief Executive Officer (or Co-Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be) or President to manage the day to day affairs of the Company, the Chief Financial Officer to manage the financial affairs of the Company, the vice-presidents to act in order of seniority in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer (or Co-Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be) or President but otherwise to perform such duties as may be delegated to them by the Chief Executive Officer (or Co-Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be) or President, the secretaries to maintain the share register, minute books and records (other than financial records) of the Company and to ensure compliance with all procedural requirements imposed on the Company by applicable law, and the treasurer to assist the Chief Financial Officer in managing the financial affairs of the Company. |
13.3 | The emoluments of all officers shall be fixed by Resolution of Directors. |
13.4 | The officers of the Company shall hold office until their death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by Resolution of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by Resolution of Directors. |
13.5 | The Directors may, by a Resolution of Directors, appoint any person, including a person who is a Director, to be an agent of the Company. An agent of the Company shall have such powers and authority of the Directors, including the power and authority to affix the Seal, as are set forth in the Articles or in the Resolution of Directors appointing the agent, except that no agent has any power or authority with respect to the matters specified in Regulation 12.2. The Resolution of Directors appointing an agent may authorise the agent to appoint one or more substitutes or delegates to exercise some or all of the powers conferred on the agent by the Company. The Directors may remove an agent appointed by the Company and may revoke or vary a power conferred on him. |
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14 | CONFLICT OF INTERESTS |
14.1 | A Director of the Company shall, forthwith after becoming aware of the fact that he is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the Company, disclose the interest to all other Directors of the Company. |
14.2 | For the purposes of Regulation 14.1, a disclosure to all other Directors to the effect that a Director is a member, Director or officer of another named entity or has a fiduciary relationship with respect to the entity or a named individual and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction which may, after the date of the entry or disclosure, be entered into with that entity or individual, is a sufficient disclosure of interest in relation to that transaction. |
14.3 | Provided that the requirements of Regulation 9.13 have first been satisfied, a Director of the Company who is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the Company may: |
(a) | unless prohibited by any then applicable rules or regulations of any Designated Stock Exchange on which any of the Company's securities are listed or of any regulatory body having oversight over the Company or its securities or the then applicable provisions of any statute or other law to which the Company is subject to, vote on a matter relating to the transaction; |
(b) | attend a meeting of Directors at which a matter relating to the transaction arises and be included among the Directors present at the meeting for the purposes of a quorum; and |
(c) | sign a document on behalf of the Company, or do any other thing in his capacity as a Director, that relates to the transaction, |
and, subject to compliance with the Act and these Articles shall not, by reason of his office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from such transaction and no such transaction shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit.
15 | INDEMNIFICATION |
15.1 | Subject to the limitations hereinafter provided the Company may indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate against all direct and indirect costs, fees and Expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, any person who: |
(a) | is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Director, officer, key employee, adviser of the Company or who at the request of the Company; or |
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(b) | is or was, at the request of the Company, serving as a Director of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another Enterprise. |
15.2 | The indemnity in Regulation 15.1 only applies if the relevant Indemnitee acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. |
15.3 | The decision of the Directors as to whether an Indemnitee acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the Company and as to whether such Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful is, in the absence of fraud, sufficient for the purposes of the Articles, unless a question of law is involved. |
15.4 | The termination of any Proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the relevant Indemnitee did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the Company or that such Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. |
15.5 | The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, purchase or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond in relation to any Indemnitee or who at the request of the Company is or was serving as a Director, officer or liquidator of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another Enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by him in that capacity, whether or not the Company has or would have had the power to indemnify him against the liability as provided in these Articles. |
16 | RECORDS |
16.1 | The Company shall keep the following documents at the office of its registered agent: |
(a) | the Memorandum and the Articles; |
(b) | the share register, or a copy of the share register; |
(c) | the register of Directors, or a copy of the register of Directors; and |
(d) | copies of all notices and other documents filed by the Company with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the previous 10 years. |
16.2 | If the Company maintains only a copy of the share register or a copy of the register of Directors at the office of its registered agent, it shall: |
(a) | within 15 days of any change in either register, notify the registered agent in writing of the change; and |
(b) | provide the registered agent with a written record of the physical address of the place or places at which the original share register or the original register of Directors is kept. |
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16.3 | The Company shall keep the following records at the office of its registered agent or at such other place or places, within or outside the British Virgin Islands, as the Directors may determine: |
(a) | minutes of meetings and Resolutions of Members and classes of Members; |
(b) | minutes of meetings and Resolutions of Directors and committees of Directors; and |
(c) | an impression of the Seal, if any. |
16.4 | Where any original records referred to in this Regulation are maintained other than at the office of the registered agent of the Company, and the place at which the original records is changed, the Company shall provide the registered agent with the physical address of the new location of the records of the Company within 14 days of the change of location. |
16.5 | The records kept by the Company under this Regulation shall be in written form or either wholly or partly as electronic records complying with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Act. |
17 | REGISTERS OF CHARGES |
17.1 | The Company shall maintain at the office of its registered agent a register of charges in which there shall be entered the following particulars regarding each mortgage, charge and other encumbrance created by the Company: |
(a) | the date of creation of the charge; |
(b) | a short description of the liability secured by the charge; |
(c) | a short description of the property charged; |
(d) | the name and address of the trustee for the security or, if there is no such trustee, the name and address of the chargee; |
(e) | unless the charge is a security to bearer, the name and address of the holder of the charge; and |
(f) | details of any prohibition or restriction contained in the instrument creating the charge on the power of the Company to create any future charge ranking in priority to or equally with the charge. |
18 | CONTINUATION |
The Company may by Resolution of Members or by a Resolution of Directors continue as a company incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands in the manner provided under those laws.
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19 | SEAL |
The Company may have more than one Seal and references herein to the Seal shall be references to every Seal which shall have been duly adopted by Resolution of Directors. The Directors shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal and for an imprint thereof to be kept at the registered office. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein the Seal when affixed to any written instrument shall be witnessed and attested to by the signature of any one Director or other person so authorised from time to time by Resolution of Directors. Such authorisation may be before or after the Seal is affixed, may be general or specific and may refer to any number of sealings. The Directors may provide for a facsimile of the Seal and of the signature of any Director or authorised person which may be reproduced by printing or other means on any instrument and it shall have the same force and validity as if the Seal had been affixed to such instrument and the same had been attested to as hereinbefore described.
20 | ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT |
20.1 | The Company shall keep records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and that will, at any time, enable the financial position of the Company to be determined with reasonable accuracy. |
20.2 | The Company may by Resolution of Members call for the Directors to prepare periodically and make available a profit and loss account and a balance sheet. The profit and loss account and balance sheet shall be drawn up so as to give respectively a true and fair view of the profit and loss of the Company for a financial period and a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities of the Company as at the end of a financial period. |
20.3 | The Company may by Resolution of Members call for the accounts to be examined by auditors. |
20.4 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall establish and maintain an audit committee as a committee of the Board of Directors, the composition and responsibilities of which shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange subject to any available exemptions therefrom and the operation of the Act. The audit committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
20.5 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on a Designated Stock Exchange that requires the Company to have an audit committee, the Directors shall adopt a formal written audit committee charter and ensure that such audit committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. |
20.6 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and, if required, shall utilise the audit committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
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20.7 | If applicable, and subject to applicable law and the rules of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange: |
(a) | at the AGM or at a subsequent extraordinary general meeting in each year, the Members shall appoint or ratify the appointment of an auditor who shall hold office until the Members appoint another auditor. Such auditor may be a Member but no Director or officer or employee of the Company shall during, his continuance in office, be eligible to act as auditor; |
(b) | a person, other than a retiring auditor, shall not be capable of being appointed auditor at an AGM unless notice in writing of an intention to nominate that person to the office of auditor has been given not less than ten days before the AGM and furthermore the Company shall send a copy of such notice to the retiring auditor; and |
(c) | the Members may, at any meeting convened and held in accordance with these Articles, by resolution remove the auditor at any time before the expiration of his term of office and shall by resolution at that meeting appoint another auditor in his stead for the remainder of his term. |
20.8 | The remuneration of the auditors shall be fixed by Resolution of Directors in such manner as the Directors may determine or in a manner required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and the SEC. |
20.9 | The auditors shall examine each profit and loss account and balance sheet required to be laid before a meeting of the Members or otherwise given to Members and shall state in a written report whether or not: |
(a) | in their opinion the profit and loss account and balance sheet give a true and fair view respectively of the profit and loss for the period covered by the accounts, and of the assets and liabilities of the Company at the end of that period; and |
(b) | all the information and explanations required by the auditors have been obtained. |
20.10 | The report of the auditors shall be annexed to the accounts and shall be read at the meeting of Members at which the accounts are laid before the Company or shall be otherwise given to the Members. |
20.11 | Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books of account and vouchers of the Company, and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanations as he thinks necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors. |
20.12 | The auditors of the Company shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend any meetings of Members at which the Company's profit and loss account and balance sheet are to be presented. |
21 | NOTICES |
21.1 | Any notice, information or written statement to be given by the Company to Members may be given by personal service by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means of electronic communication, addressed to each Member at the address shown in the share register. |
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21.2 | Any summons, notice, order, document, process, information or written statement to be served on the Company may be served by leaving it, or by sending it by registered mail addressed to the Company, at its registered office, or by leaving it with, or by sending it by registered mail to, the registered agent of the Company. |
21.3 | Service of any summons, notice, order, document, process, information or written statement to be served on the Company may be proved by showing that the summons, notice, order, document, process, information or written statement was delivered to the registered office or the registered agent of the Company or that it was mailed in such time as to admit to its being delivered to the registered office or the registered agent of the Company in the normal course of delivery within the period prescribed for service and was correctly addressed and the postage was prepaid. |
22 | VOLUNTARY WINDING UP |
The Company may by a Resolution of Members or by a Resolution of Directors appoint a voluntary liquidator.
23 | BUSINESS COMBINATION |
23.1 | Regulations 23.1 to 23.11 shall terminate upon consummation of any Business Combination. |
23.2 | In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO (such date falling 21 months after the closing of the IPO being referred to as the Termination Date ), such failure shall trigger an automatic redemption of the Public Shares (an Automatic Redemption Event ) and the Directors of the Company shall take all such action necessary (i) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than five (5) Business Days thereafter to redeem the Public Shares (as defined below) or distribute the Trust Account to the holders of Public Shares, on a pro rata basis, in cash at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price; and (ii) as promptly as practicable, to cease all operations except for the purpose of making such distribution and any subsequent winding up of the Company's affairs. In the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, only the holders of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata redeeming distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Public Shares. |
23.3 | Unless a shareholder vote is required by law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, or, at the sole discretion of the Directors, the Directors determine to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company may enter into a Business Combination without submitting such Business Combination to its Members for approval. |
23.4 | Although not required, in the event that a shareholder vote is held, and a majority of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote thereon which were present at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such Business Combination, the Company shall be authorised to consummate the Business Combination. |
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23.5 |
(a) | For so long as the Company remains a "foreign private issuer" within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act and approves a Business Combination, the Company will (so long as the relevant Business Combination has not been abandoned or terminated) offer to redeem the Public Shares for cash by means of a tender offer (the Tender Redemption Offer ) in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and subject to any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) set forth in the definitive transaction agreements related to the initial Business Combination so long as the Company is a "foreign private issuer" at the commencement of the Tender Redemption Offer. If the Company is not a "foreign private issuer" within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act at the time it may commence a Tender Redemption Offer, the Directors at their sole discretion may elect, but are not required, to conduct a Tender Redemption Offer in connection with the initial Business Combination. If the Company is conducting a Tender Redemption Offer, the Company will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to consummating the Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination and the redemption rights as would be required in a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. In accordance with the Exchange Act, the Tender Redemption Offer will remain open for a minimum of 20 Business Days and the Company will not be permitted to consummate its Business Combination until the expiry of such period. If in the event a Member holding Public Shares accepts the Tender Redemption Offer and the Company has not otherwise withdrawn the tender offer, the Company shall, promptly after the consummation of the Business Combination, pay such redeeming Member, on a pro rata basis, cash equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price. |
(b) | In the event that a shareholder vote is held to approve the Business Combination, then the Company will in connection with a Business Combination either: |
(i) | notwithstanding any proxy solicitation in connection with any shareholder vote (to the extent one is required or determined to be held), nevertheless still conduct any required or agreed redemptions in connection with any proposed Business Combination solely pursuant to a Tender Redemption Offer on the same basis as is set out under Regulation 23.4 and on no other basis; or |
(ii) | if the Directors at their sole discretion elect, or if the Company is required to do so by any applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange (whether or not the Company is also conducting or required to conduct a Tender Redemption Offer in respect of the Business Combination), in connection with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act offer to redeem the Public Shares (the Proxy Redemption Offer ), other than those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or officers of the Company, regardless of whether such shares are voted for or against the Business Combination, for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price; provided, that any such redeeming Member who either individually or together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a "group" (as such term is defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) shall not be permitted to redeem more than twenty percent ( 20%) of the total Public Shares sold in the IPO. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company is not a "foreign private issuer" within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act at the time it may commence a Tender Redemption Offer, then the Company is not required to conduct a Tender Redemption Offer and may determine to conduct only a Proxy Redemption Offer. |
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(c) | In no event will the Company consummate the Tender Redemption Offer or the Proxy Redemption Offer under Regulation 23.5(a) or 23.5(b)(ii) or an Amendment Redemption Event under Regulation 23.11 if such redemptions would cause the Company to have net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001. |
23.6 | A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, an Amendment Redemption Event or in the event he accepts a Tender Redemption Offer or a Proxy Redemption Offer where the Business Combination is consummated. In no other circumstances shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in or to the Trust Account. A holder of Public Shares that is an Initial Shareholder or its affiliate or a Director or officer of the Company shall be entitled to receive distributions upon an Automatic Redemption Event. |
23.7 | Prior to a Business Combination, the Company will not issue any Securities (other than Public Shares) that would entitle the holder thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account; or (ii) vote on any Business Combination. |
23.8 | The Business Combination must be approved by a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors. In the event the Company enters into a Business Combination with a company that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Directors or officers of the Company, the Company will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of Target Business the Company is seeking to acquire that such a Business Combination is fair to the holders of the Public Shares from a financial point of view. |
23.9 | The Company will not effectuate a Business Combination with another "blank cheque" company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
23.10 | Immediately after the Company's IPO, the net amount of the offering proceeds received by the Company in the IPO (including proceeds of any exercise of the underwriter's over-allotment option and any proceeds from the simultaneous private placement of like units comprising like securities to those included in the IPO by the Company) as described in the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC (the Registration Statement ) at the time it goes effective shall be deposited and thereafter held in the Trust Account except for any amounts stated in the Registration Statement to be excluded from the Trust Account. Neither the Company nor any officer, Director or employee of the Company will disburse any of the proceeds held in the Trust Account until the earlier of (i) a Business Combination, or (ii) an Automatic Redemption Event or in payment of the redemption or acquisition price for any shares which the Company is required or elects to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire in accordance with these Articles, in each case in accordance with the trust agreement governing the Trust Account; provided that interest earned on the Trust Account (as described in the Registration Statement) may be released from time to time to the Company as set forth in the trust agreement governing the Trust Account). |
23.11 | In the event the Directors of the Company propose any amendment to Regulation 23 or to any of the other rights of the Ordinary Shares as set out at Clause 6.1 of the Memorandum prior to, but not for the purposes of approving or in conjunction with the consummation of, a Business Combination that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations as described in this Regulation 23 to pay or to offer to pay the Per-Share Redemption Price to any holder of the Public Shares (an Amendment ) and such Amendment is (i) duly approved by a Resolution of Members; and (ii) the amended Memorandum and Articles reflecting such amendment are filed at the Registry of Corporate Affairs (an Approved Amendment ), the Company will offer to redeem the Public Shares (other than those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or officers of the Company) of any Member for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price (an Amendment Redemption Event ). |
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Signed for HARNEYS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED of Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands for the purpose of incorporating a BVI Business Company under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on 07 October 2016.
Incorporator
…………………………………………………..
Indira Ward-Lewis
Authorised Signatory
HARNEYS CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED
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Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
WARRANT AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of June 19, 2017 between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company, with offices at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016 (the “ Company ”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004 ( the “ Warrant Agent ”).
WHEREAS, the Company has received a binding commitments (the “ Subscription Agreements ”) from Bison Capital Holding Company Limited (“ Bison Capital ”) and from EarlyBird Capital, Inc. (“ EBC ”) whereby they and/or their designees will purchase up to an aggregate of 388,750 units (up to 432,063 units if the over-allotment option is exercised), each unit (collectively, the “ Private Units ”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value (the “ Ordinary Share ”), one right to receive one tenth of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one warrant each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share at $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as described herein, and in connection therewith, the Company will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 194,375 warrants (up to 216,032 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised) (the “ Private Warrants ”), upon consummation of such private placement (the “ Private Offering ”); and
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) of units (the “ Public Units ”, together with Private Units, the “ Units ”) and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver (i) up to 2,625,000 warrants (or 3,018,750 warrants assuming the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “ Public Warrants ”) to the public investors and (ii) 78,750 warrants (underlying unit purchase options) to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“ EBC ”) or its designees (“ EBC Warrants ” and, together with the Public Warrants and Private Warrants, the “ Warrants ”); and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) a Registration Statement, on Form S-1, No. 333-218404 (the “ Registration Statement ”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) of, among other securities, the Public Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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1. Appointment of Warrant Agent . The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Warrants .
2.1. Form of Warrant . Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 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 Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.2. Effect of Countersignature . Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3. Registration .
2.3.1. Warrant Register . The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “ Warrant Register ”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.
2.3.2. Registered Holder . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant Register (the “ Registered Holder ”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the warrant certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4. Detachability of Public Warrants . The securities comprising the Public Units will not be separately transferable until the ninetieth (90 th ) day after the date of the Registration Statement unless EBC informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Public Units begin until (i) 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 hereof, and (ii) if EBC allows separate trading prior to the 90 th day after the date of the Registration Statement, the Company issues a press release and files a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.
2.5. Warrant Attributes .
2.5.1. Private Warrants . The Private Warrants will be issued in the same form as the Public Warrants but they (i) will be exercisable either for cash or on a cashless basis at the holder’s option pursuant to Section 3.3.1(c), and (ii) will not be redeemable by the Company, in either case as long as such warrants are held by the initial purchasers or their affiliates and permitted transferees (as provided below). The provisions of this Section 2.5.1 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of EBC. Prior to the date immediately following the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination (as defined below), the Private Warrants held by Bison Capital or EBC may only be transferred by the holders thereof:
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(a) to any persons (including their affiliates and shareholders) participating in the Private Offering, officer, director, security holder, employee, member or affiliate of Bison Capital,
(b) to the Company’s officers, directors and employees,
(c) as a distribution to partners, shareholders of Bison Capital or EBC upon the liquidation and dissolution of Bison Capital or EBC, as the case may be,
(d) by bona fide gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family for estate planning purposes,
(e) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person,
(f) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order,
(g) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities,
(h) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Warrants were originally purchased, or
(i) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination, the Company consummates a merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the holders of the Company’s equity securities issued in the Public Offering having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property.
2.5.2. EBC Warrants. The EBC Warrants shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants.
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants .
3.1. Warrant Price . Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “ Warrant Price ” as used in this Warrant Agreement refers to the price per share at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 3.2 below) for a period of not less than 20 business days; provided, however, that the Company shall provide at least 10 business days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; provided, further, however, that any such reduction shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.
3.2. Duration of Warrants . A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “ Exercise Period ”) commencing on the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, contractual arrangement, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “ Business Combination ”) (as described more fully in the Registration Statement), and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of (1) five years from the consummation of a Business Combination, (2) the liquidation of the Company, and (3) the Redemption Date as provided in Section 6.2 of this Agreement (the “ Expiration Date ”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in Section 7.4 below. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6 hereunder), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Company will provide written notice to Registered Holders of the Warrants of such extension of not less than 20 days prior to such extension.
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3.3. Exercise of Warrants .
3.3.1. Payment . Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Warrant Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full the Warrant Price for each full Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, as follows:
(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;
(b) in the event of redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s management has elected to require all holders of Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and “Fair Market Value A” (defined below) by (y) Fair Market Value A, provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless Fair Market Value A is higher than the exercise price. “ Fair Market Value A ” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of Warrant pursuant to Section 6 hereof; or
(c) with respect to any Private Warrants, so long as such Private Warrants are held by the initial purchasers or their affiliates and permitted transferees (as prescribed in Section 5.6 hereof), by surrendering such Private Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and “Fair Market Value B” (defined below) by (y) Fair Market Value B; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless Fair Market Value B is higher than the exercise price. “ Fair Market Value B ” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the 10 trading days ending on the day prior to the Company’s receipt of the applicable exercise notice; or
(d) in the event the post-effective amendment or registration statement required by Section 7.4 hereof is not effective and current, then during the period beginning on the 120 th day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment or registration statement, and during any other period after such date of effectiveness when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, by surrendering such Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and “Fair Market Value C” (defined below) by (y) Fair Market Value C; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless Fair Market Value C is higher than the exercise price. “ Fair Market Value C ” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the day prior to the date of exercise.
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3.3.2. Issuance of Certificates . As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if any), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a certificate or certificates for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new countersigned Warrant for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Subject to Section 4.7 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Ordinary Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. Warrants may not be exercised by, or securities issued to, any Registered Holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful.
3.3.3. Valid Issuance . All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3.3.4. 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 on which the Warrant was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books are open.
3.3.5. Maximum Percentage . A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “ Maximum Percentage ”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the SEC as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company, or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) business days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
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4. Adjustments .
4.1. Share Dividends - Split Ups . If after the date hereof, subject to Section 4.7, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares, or by a split up of the Ordinary Shares, or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share dividend, split up or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering to all holders of the Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than “Fair Market Value D” (defined below) shall be deemed a share dividend of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) Fair Market Value D (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 4.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for the Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “ Fair Market Value D ” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, with the right to receive such rights.
4.2. Aggregation of Shares . If after the date hereof, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of the Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Ordinary Shares.
4.3. Extraordinary Dividends . If the Company, at any time while the Warrants (or rights to purchase the Warrants) are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Ordinary Shares on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares of the Company’s share capital into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in Section 4.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the conversion rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed Business Combination, (d) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company in connection with a Business Combination or as otherwise permitted by the Investment Management Trust Agreement between the Company and the Warrant Agent dated of even date herewith, (e) or as a result of the issuance of Ordinary Shares as a result of conversion of the Rights issued in the Public Offering, or (f) in connection with the Company’s liquidation and the distribution of its assets upon its failure to consummate a Business Combination (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “ Extraordinary Dividend ”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this Section 4.3, “ Ordinary Cash Dividends ” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).
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4.4. Adjustments in Exercise Price . Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in Section 4.1 and 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.5. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc . In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Warrant holders shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the Warrant holder would have received if such Warrant holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 and this Section 4.5. The provisions of this Section 4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
4.6. Notices of Changes in Warrant . Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5, then, in any such event, the Company shall give written notice to each Warrant holder, at the last address set forth for such holder in the warrant register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.7. No Fractional Shares . Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round up or down to the nearest whole number the number of the Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder.
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4.8. Form of Warrant . The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
4.9. Other Events . In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if such firm determines that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants .
5.1. Registration of Transfer . The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants . Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3. Fractional Warrants . The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a warrant certificate for a fraction of a warrant.
5.4. Service Charges . No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature . The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
5.6. Private Warrants . The Warrant Agent shall not register any transfer of Private Warrants until after the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, except for transfers made in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof, on the condition that prior to such registration for transfer, the Warrant Agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each transferee or the trustee or legal guardian for such transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of the Subscription Agreements.
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6. Redemption.
6.1. Redemption . Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon the notice referred to in Section 6.2, at the price of $.01 per Warrant (the “ Redemption Price ”), provided that the last sales price of the Ordinary Shares has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period (the “ 30-Day Trading Period ”) ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given and provided further that there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants for each day in the 30-Day Trading Period and continuing each day thereafter until the Redemption Date (as defined below).
6.2. Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption . In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.
6.3. Exercise after Notice of Redemption . The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 3.3.1(b), the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including Fair Market Value A. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the aggregate Redemption Price.
6.4. Exclusion of Certain Warrants . The Company understands that the redemption rights provided for by this Section 6 apply only to outstanding Warrants. To the extent a person holds rights to purchase Warrants, such purchase rights shall not be extinguished by redemption. However, once such purchase rights are exercised, the Company may redeem the Warrants issued upon such exercise provided that the criteria for redemption is met. Additionally, any of the Private Warrants shall not be redeemable by the Company as long as such Private Warrants continue to be held by initial purchasers and affiliates or their permitted transferees (as prescribed in Section 5.6 hereof). However, once such Private Warrants are no longer held by the initial purchasers or their affiliates or permitted transferees, such Private Warrants shall then be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6 hereof. The provisions of this Section 6.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of EBC.
7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants .
7.1. No Rights as Shareholder . A Warrant 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.
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7.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants . If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares . The Company shall at all times, prior to the Expiration Date, reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4. Registration of Ordinary Shares . The Company agrees that as soon as practicable after the closing of a Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a new registration statement, for the registration, under the Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and it shall use its best efforts to take such action as is necessary to qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company, the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. In either case, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to register such securities under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising warrant holders to the extent an exemption is not available. If any such post-effective amendment or registration statement has not been declared effective by the 120-day anniversary following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 120 th day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such post-effective amendment or registration statement being declared effective by the SEC, and during any other period after such date of effectiveness when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis” as determined in accordance with Section 3.3.1(d). The Company shall provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this Section 7.4 is not required to be registered under the Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise will be freely tradable under U.S. federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and, accordingly, will not be required to bear a restrictive legend. For the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised on a cashless basis, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this Section The provisions of this Section 7.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of EBC.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters .
8.1. 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 Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.
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8.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent .
8.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent . The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent . In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent . Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent is a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
8.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent .
8.3.1. Remuneration . The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.3.2. Further Assurances . The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4. Liability of Warrant Agent .
8.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement . Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant 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 Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
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8.4.2. Indemnity . The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.
8.4.3. Exclusions . The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.
8.5. Acceptance of Agency . The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of Warrants.
8.6. Waiver . The Warrant 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 Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1. Successors . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2. Notices . Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by any party shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery, or when receipt so acknowledged if sent via facsimile, 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 any party), as follows:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaquaio Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong, Chief Executive Officer
And Chief Executive Officer
Fax: +81 10 84446968
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Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by any party shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery, or when receipt so acknowledged if sent via facsimile, 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 such party), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Fax: (212) 616-7620
Attn: Steven Nelson and Fran Wolf
with a copy in each case (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Fax: 212-202-6380
Attn: Arila Zhou, Esq.
And if with respect to Sections 2.5, 6.4, 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8
Graubard Miller
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
Fax: (212) 818-8881
and
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Steven Levine, Chief Executive Officer
Fax: (212) 661-4936
9.3. Applicable Law . The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Parties hereby agree 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 submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Parties hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenience forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Parties 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 Parties in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement. 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.
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9.4. 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 Warrants and, for the purposes of Sections 2.5, 6.4, 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof, EBC, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. EBC shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 2.5, 6.4, 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and EBC with respect to the Sections 2.5, 6.4, 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement . A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.
9.6. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.7. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8. Amendments . This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or 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, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent or vote of the Registered Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders. The provisions of this Section 9.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of EBC.
9.9. Severability . This Warrant 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 Warrant 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 Warrant Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
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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.
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
[Company’s Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Henry Farrell | |
Name: | Henry Farrell | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Warrant Agent’s Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
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Exhibit 4.2
Execution Version
THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE OPTION EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED, AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE OPTION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. (“ EBC ”) OR AN UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF EBC OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110(G)(2). ADDITIONALLY, PURSUANT TO FINRA CONDUCT RULE 5110(G), THE PURCHASE OPTION (OR THE ORDINARY SHARES AND WARRANTS UNDERLYING THIS PURCHASE OPTION) WILL NOT BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES BY ANY PERSON FOR A PERIOD OF 180 DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS PURCHASE OPTION IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO THE LATER OF THE CONSUMMATION BY BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. (“ COMPANY ”) OF A MERGER, SHARE EXCHANGE, ASSET ACQUISITION, SHARE PURCHASE, RECAPITALIZATION, REORGANIZATION OR OTHER SIMILAR BUSINESS COMBINATION WITH ONE OR MORE BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES (“ BUSINESS COMBINATION ”) (AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN THE COMPANY’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT (DEFINED HEREIN)) AND JUNE 19, 2018 AND IS VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY LOCAL TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE (DEFINED HEREIN).
UNIT PURCHASE OPTION
FOR THE PURCHASE OF
157,500 UNITS
OF
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
1. Purchase Option.
THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of $100.00 duly paid by or on behalf of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., as registered owner (the “ Holder ”) of this purchase option (this “ Purchase Option ”), to Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), the Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time from the later of the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“ Business Combination ”) or June 19, 2018 (the “ Commencement Date ”), until 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, on the five year anniversary of the effective date (the “ Effective Date ”) of the Company’s registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) pursuant to which units are offered for sale to the public (the “ Offering ”), but not thereafter (the “ Expiration Date ”), to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to 157,500 units (“ Unit(s) ”) of the Company, each Unit consisting of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value (“ Ordinary Shares ”), one right entitling the Holder to receive one tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share upon consummation of a Business Combination, and one-half of one warrant (“ Warrant(s) ”) each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share. Each Right is the same as the right included in the units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement (the Right(s) ”). Each Warrant is the same as the warrant included in the Units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement (“ Public Warrants ”). If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Option may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, neither this Purchase Option nor the Warrants underlying this Purchase Option may be exercisable after the five year anniversary of the Effective Date. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate the Purchase Option. This Purchase Option is initially exercisable at $10.00 per Unit so purchased; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Option, including the exercise price per Unit and the number of Units (and Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants) to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “ Exercise Price ” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.
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2. Exercise.
2.1. Exercise Form . In order to exercise this Purchase Option, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price for the Units being purchased payable in cash or by certified check or official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Option shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.
2.2. Legend . Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Option shall bear a legend substantially as follows and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions unless counsel to the Company advises otherwise such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“ Act ”):
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS.”
2.3. Cashless Exercise .
2.3.1. Determination of Amount . In lieu of the payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Units for which this Purchase Option is exercisable (and in lieu of being entitled to receive Ordinary Shares and Warrants) in the manner required by Section 2.1, and subject to Section 6.1 hereof, the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to convert any exercisable but unexercised portion of this Purchase Option into Units (the “ Cashless Exercise Right ”) as follows: upon exercise of the Cashless Exercise Right, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (without payment by the Holder of any of the Exercise Price in cash) that number of Units (or that number of Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants comprising that number of Units) equal to the number of Units to be exercised multiplied by the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the “Value” (as defined below) of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted by (y) the Current Market Value (as defined below). The “Value” of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted shall equal the remainder derived from subtracting (a) (i) the Exercise Price multiplied by (ii) the number of Units underlying the portion of this Purchase Option being converted from (b) the Current Market Value of a Unit multiplied by the number of Units underlying the portion of the Purchase Option being converted. As used herein, the term “Current Market Value” per Unit at any date means: (A) in the event that the Units, Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants are still trading, (i) if the Units are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the average reported last sale price of the Units in the principal trading market for the Units as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”), as the case may be, for the three trading days preceding the date in question; or (ii) if the Units are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but is traded in the residual over-the-counter market, the average reported last sale price for Units for the three trading days preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; (B) in the event that the Units are not still trading but the Ordinary Share and Public Warrants underlying the Units are still trading, the aggregate of (i) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Share and (y) the number of the Ordinary Shares underlying one Unit (which shall include the portion of an Ordinary Share the holder of a Unit would automatically receive in connection with the Right included in each such Unit) plus (ii) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Public Warrants and (y) the number of the Warrants included in one Unit; or (C) in the event that neither the Units nor Public Warrants are still trading, the aggregate of (i) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Share and (y) the number of the Ordinary Shares underlying one Unit (which shall include the portion of an Ordinary Share the holder of a Unit would automatically receive in connection with the Right included in each such Unit) plus (ii) the remainder derived from subtracting (x) the exercise price of the Warrants multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants underlying one Unit from (y) the product of (aa) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Shares multiplied by (bb) the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants included in each such Unit. The “ Current Market Price ” shall mean (i) if the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants, as the case may be) are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants) in the principal trading market for the Ordinary Share (or Public Warrants) as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or FINRA, as the case may be, for the three trading days preceding the date in question; (ii) if the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants, as the case may be) are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but are traded in the residual over-the-counter market, the average reported last sale price for the Ordinary Share (or Public Warrants) on for the three trading days preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Ordinary Share cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such price as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine, in good faith. In the event the Public Warrants have expired and are no longer exercisable, no “Value” shall be attributed to the Warrants underlying this Purchase Option.
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2.3.2. Mechanics of Cashless Exercise . The Cashless Exercise Right may be exercised by the Holder on any business day on or after the Commencement Date and not later than the Expiration Date by delivering the Purchase Option with the duly executed exercise form attached hereto with the cashless exercise section completed to the Company, exercising the Cashless Exercise Right and specifying the total number of Units the Holder will purchase pursuant to such Cashless Exercise Right.
2.4. No Obligation to Net Cash Settle . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Purchase Option, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of the Purchase Option or the Rights or Warrants underlying the Purchase Option. The holder of the Purchase Option and the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option will not be entitled to exercise the Purchase Option or the Warrants underlying such Purchase Option unless it exercises such Purchase Option pursuant to the Cashless Exercise Right or a registration statement is effective, or an exemption from the registration requirements is available at such time and, if the holder is not able to exercise the Purchase Option or underlying Warrants, the Purchase Option and/or the underlying Warrants, as applicable, will expire worthless. For the avoidance of doubt, the holder of the Purchase Option and the Warrants may not utilize the Cashless Exercise Right if the Exercise Price of a Unit is more than the average reported last sale price for a Unit or Ordinary Share for the three trading days preceding the exercise.
3. Transfer.
3.1. General Restrictions . The Holder, by its acceptance of this Purchase Option, agrees that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Option (or the Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants underlying this Purchase Option) for a period of 180 days pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1) following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) the Holder or an underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Holder or of any such underwriter or selected dealer. Additionally, pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g), the Purchase Option (or the Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants underlying this Purchase Option) will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the Effective Date. On and after the 181 st day following the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Option and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five business days transfer this Purchase Option on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option or Purchase Options of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Units purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.
3.2. Restrictions Imposed by the Act . The securities evidenced by this Purchase Option shall not be transferred unless and until (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Graubard Miller shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of an exemption), or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.
4. New Purchase Option to be Issued.
4.1. Partial Exercise or Transfer . Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Option may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Option for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price (except to the extent that the Holder elects to exercise this Purchase Option by means of a cashless exercise as provided in Section 2.3 above) and/or transfer tax, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Option of like tenor to this Purchase Option in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Units purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Option has not been exercised or assigned.
4.2. Lost Certificate . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Option and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Option executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
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5. Registration Rights.
5.1. Demand Registration .
5.1.1. Grant of Right . The Company, upon written demand (the “ Initial Demand Notice ”) of the Holder(s) of at least 51% of the Purchase Option and/or the underlying Units and/or the underlying securities (“ Majority Holders ”), agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to register (the “ Demand Registration ”) under the Act on one occasion, all or any portion of the Purchase Option requested by the Majority Holders in the Initial Demand Notice and all of the securities underlying such Purchase Option, including the Units, Ordinary Shares, the Warrants and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants (collectively, the “ Registrable Securities ”). On such occasion, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities as expeditiously as possible after receipt of the Initial Demand Notice and use commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement or post-effective amendment declared effective as soon as possible thereafter. The demand for registration may be made at any time during a period of four and one-half years beginning 180 days after the Effective Date. The Initial Demand Notice 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 the Purchase Option and/or Registrable Securities of the demand within ten days from the date of the receipt of any such Initial Demand Notice. 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 5.1.4. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one (1) Demand Registration under this Section 5.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.
5.1.2. Effective Registration . Notwithstanding Section 5.1.5, 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 Purchase Option with respect thereto.
5.1.3. Underwritten Offering . If the Majority Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of the Initial Demand Notice, 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 securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Majority Holders.
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5.1.4. 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; (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 registrable pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the initial investors in the Company and EBC (and/or its designees), dated as of May 31, 2017 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ” and such registrable securities, the “ Investor Securities ”) as to which “piggy-back” registration has been requested by the holders thereof, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares have not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), 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.
5.1.5. 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 the Company does not have to continue its obligations under this Section 5.1, provided that, any such withdrawal will not count as the Demand Registration if the Demanding Holders pay all of the Company’s out-of-pocket expenses of the Company with respect to such withdrawn registration.
5.1.6. Terms . The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities, including the expenses of one legal counsel, not to exceed $5,000, selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and transfer taxes. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to qualify or register the Registrable Securities in such states as are reasonably requested by the Majority Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Registrable Securities in a state in which such registration would cause (i) the Company to be obligated to qualify to do business in such state, or would subject the Company to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction or require the Company to be subject to service of process in that state or (ii) the principal shareholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their ordinary shares of the Company. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any registration statement or post-effective amendment filed pursuant to the demand rights granted under Section 5.1.1 to remain effective for a period of six consecutive months from the effective date of such registration statement or post-effective amendment.
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5.2. Piggy-Back Registration .
5.2.1. Piggy-Back Rights . If at any time during the seven year period commencing on the Effective Date the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the 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 5.1), other than a registration statement (i) filed in connection with any employee share 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 commercially reasonable 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.
5.2.2. 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 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 5.2, 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 and Investor 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 holders of Investor Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons, Pro Rata, 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), the shares 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; and
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(c) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities or of Investor 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 and Investor Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof and of the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable, 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.
5.2.3. 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 the registration statement.
5.2.4. Terms . The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities, including the expenses of one legal counsel, not to exceed $5,000, selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions related to the Registrable Securities and all transfer taxes. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than fifteen days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each applicable registration statement filed (during the period in which the Purchase Option is exercisable) by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been registered and sold. The Holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the above “piggyback” rights to remain effective for at least three months from the date that the Holders of the Registrable Securities are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities.
5.3. General Terms .
5.3.1. Indemnification . The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“ Exchange Act ”), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever whether arising out of any action between the underwriter and the Company or between the underwriter and any third party or otherwise) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the underwriters contained in Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement between the Company, EarlyBirdCapital Inc. (“ EBC ”) and the other underwriters named therein dated the Effective Date. The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns for specific inclusion in such registration statement or arising from any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement contained therein not misleading in connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the underwriters have agreed to indemnify the Company.
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5.3.2. Exercise of Purchase Option . Nothing contained in this Purchase Option shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Option or Warrants underlying such Purchase Option prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.
5.3.3. Documents Delivered to Holders . The Company shall furnish EBC for as long as it is a Holder, as representative of the Holders participating in any of the foregoing offerings, a signed counterpart, addressed to the participating Holders, of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Company, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date of the closing under any underwriting agreement related thereto), and (ii) if such registration statement is filed in connection of an underwritten public offering, a “cold comfort” letter dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, a letter dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement) signed by the independent public accountants who have issued a report on the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of such accountants’ letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to EBC for as long as it is a Holder, as representative of the Holders participating in the offering, the correspondence and memoranda described below and copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit EBC, as representative of the Holders, to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times and as often as EBC, as representative of the Holders, shall reasonably request. The Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information or other records to EBC, as representative of the Holders, or to any other person, until and unless such persons shall have entered into reasonable confidentiality agreements (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company), with the Company with respect thereto, or if EBC is not a Holder.
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5.3.4. Underwriting Agreement . The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter(s), if any, selected by any Holders whose Registrable Securities are being registered pursuant to this Section 5, which managing underwriter shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. Such agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, each Holder and such managing underwriters, and shall contain such representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and such other terms as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to an underwritten sale of their Registrable Securities and may, at their option, require that any or all the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holders. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders and their intended methods of distribution. Such Holders, however, shall agree to such covenants and indemnification and contribution obligations for selling shareholders as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. Further, such Holders shall execute appropriate custody agreements and otherwise cooperate fully in the preparation of the registration statement and other documents relating to any offering in which they include securities pursuant to this Section 5. Each Holder shall also furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities.
5.3.5. Rule 144 Sale . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 5 to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.2 to use any efforts to obtain the registration of Registrable Securities held by any Holder (i) where such Holder would then be entitled to sell under Rule 144 within any three-month period (or such other period prescribed under Rule 144 as may be provided by amendment thereof) all of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder, or (ii) where the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder is within the volume limitations under paragraph (e) of Rule 144 (calculated as if such Holder were an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144).
5.3.6. Supplemental Prospectus . Each Holder agrees, that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in the registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus, and, if so desired by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of such destruction) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. Each Holder agrees that it shall be liable for, and indemnify the Company for any breach of this Section 5.3.6.
6. Adjustments.
6.1. Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities . The Exercise Price and the number of Units underlying the Purchase Option shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:
6.1.1. Share Dividends - Split-Ups . If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares or by a split-up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased. In such case, the number of Ordinary Shares, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.
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6.1.2. Aggregation of Shares . If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased. In such case, the number of Ordinary Shares, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.
6.1.3. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc . In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares, or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Option shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Option) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Option and the underlying Rights and Warrants immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
6.1.4. Changes in Form of Purchase Option . This form of Purchase Option need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section, and a Purchase Option issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Units as are stated in the Purchase Option as initially issued. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of a new Purchase Option reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof.
6.2. Substitute Purchase Option . In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or merger shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Option providing that the holder of each Purchase Option then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Option) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Option, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or merger, by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided in Section 6.1. The above provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or mergers.
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6.3. Elimination of Fractional Interests . The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Ordinary Shares or Warrants upon the exercise of the Purchase Option, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down to the nearest whole number of Warrants, Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights (or as otherwise provided pursuant to the Warrants Agreement or Rights Agreement, as the case may be).
7. Reservation and Listing.
The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Option (including the Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights) or the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option, such number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option and payment of the respective Warrant exercise price therefor, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder.
8. Certain Notice Requirements.
8.1. Holder’s Right to Receive Notice . Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Option and its exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.
8.2. Events Requiring Notice . The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Ordinary Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, or (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Ordinary Shares any additional shares of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or merger) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed. The parties hereto agree that any breach of this Section 8.2 shall not invalidate any of the events described in this Section 8.2 or make or deem such events not authorized.
8.3. Notice of Change in Exercise Price . The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“ Price Notice ”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer.
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8.4. Transmittal of Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Option shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service, or receipt is acknowledged if sent via facsimile: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Option, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to the following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong
Fax: +86 10 84446968, ext. 800
with a copy in each case (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Fax: 212-202-6380
Attn: Arila Zhou, Esq.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1. Amendments . The Company and EBC, for as long as it is a Holder, may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Option without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and EBC may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and EBC deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.
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 Purchase Option.
9.3. Entire Agreement . This Purchase Option (together with the other letters, agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Option) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4. Binding Effect . This Purchase Option shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative 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 Purchase Option or any provisions herein contained.
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9.5. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction . This Purchase Option shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. Each of the Holder and the Company hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Option shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. The Company hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this Purchase Option.
9.6. Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Option or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Option. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Option 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 or non-compliance.
9.7. Execution in Counterparts . This Purchase Option 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.
9.8. Exchange Agreement . As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Option by Holder, if the Company and EBC enter into an agreement (“ Exchange Agreement ”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Option will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall be deemed to have agreed to such exchange and it shall become a party to the Exchange Agreement.
9.9. Representations and Warranties . The Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option and any subsequent exercises of this Purchase Option are subject to the Company receiving any representations and warranties the Company reasonably requests in order to ensure compliance with the Act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Option to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the 19 day of June, 2017.
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Form to be used to exercise Purchase Option:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong
Fax: +86 10 84446968, ext. 800
Date:_________________, 20___
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise all or a portion of the within Purchase Option and to purchase ____ Units of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. and hereby makes payment of $____________ (at the rate of $_________ per Unit) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the securities as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.
Or
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase _________ Units purchasable under the within Purchase Option by surrender of the unexercised portion of the attached Purchase Option (with a “Value” based of $_______ based on a “Market Price” of $_______). Please issue the securities comprising the Units as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed: | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
Name of Unitholder: ________________________________________
(Print in block letters)
Address: ________________________________________________
Form to be used to assign Purchase Option:
ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Option):
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,______________________________________________ does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto___________________________________________ the right to purchase __________ Units of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (“ Company ”) evidenced by the within Purchase Option and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.
The address of the transferee is:________________
Dated: ___________________, 20__
Signature | |
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed: | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). |
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Exhibit 4.3
Execution Version
RIGHT AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of June 19, 2017 between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company, with offices at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016 (the “ Company ”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004 (the “ Right Agent ”).
WHEREAS, the Company has received binding commitments from Bison Capital Holding Company Limited (“ Bison Capital ”) and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“ EBC ”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 432,063 units, each unit (“ Unit ”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value (“ Ordinary Share ”), one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share (“ Right ”) upon the happening of the triggering event described herein, and one warrant to purchase one half of one ordinary share (“ Warrant ”), and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 432,063 Rights upon consummation of such private placement (“ Private Offering ”); and
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (“ Public Offering ”) of Units and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to 6,037,500 Rights to the public investors and 157,500 Rights (underlying unit purchase options) to EBC or its designees; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-218404 (“ Registration Statement ”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“ Act ”) of, among other securities, the Rights and the Ordinary Shares issuable to the holders of the Rights; and
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 the Chairman of the Board 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 shares of Ordinary Shares.
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 the ninetieth (90 th ) day after the date hereof unless EBC informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units begin until (i) 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 hereof, 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. 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 shares of Ordinary Shares upon an Exchange Event as the purchase price for such shares of 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 or issue fractional Ordinary Shares.
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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) the number of full 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 and issue to such registered holder(s) a certificate for the such shares. 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. In the event that any holder would otherwise be entitled to any fractional share upon exchange of Rights, at the time of an Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Right Agent how any such entitlement will be addressed. To the fullest extent permitted by the Company's Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association the Company reserves the right to deal with any such fractional entitlement at the relevant time in any manner permitted by the Act and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles, which would include the rounding down of any entitlement to receive Ordinary Shares to the nearest whole share (and in effect extinguishing any fractional entitlement), or the holder being entitled to hold any remaining fractional entitlement (without any share being issued) and to aggregate the same with any future fractional entitlement to receive shares in the Company until the holder is entitled to receive a whole number. Any rounding down and extinguishment may be done with or without any in lieu cash payment or other compensation being made to the holder of the relevant Rights, such that value received on exchange of the Rights may be considered less than the value that the holder would otherwise expect to receive.
3.3.2. Valid Issuance . All Ordinary Shares issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement 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 of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate.
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 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 3.3.1 above. Each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively convert his/her or its rights in order to receive the 1/10 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 underlying shares as well as to return the original certificates evidencing the Rights to the Company.
3.4. Duration of Rights . If an Exchange Event does not occur within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless.
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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 representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right shall be cancelled by the Right Agent. The Rights 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 Rights 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 and issue new Rights 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 Rights 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.
4.4. Service Charges . No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.
4.5. 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 shares of 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 Rights . If any Right 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, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
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5.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares . The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of 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 shares 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.
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.
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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 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.
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 countersignature 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.
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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:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaquaio Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong, Chief Executive Officer
And Chief Executive Officer
Fax: +81 10 84446968
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
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Fax: (212) 616-7620
Attn: Steven Nelson and Fran Wolf
with a copy in each case (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunter Taubman Fischer &Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Fax: 212-202-6380
Attn: Arila Zhou, Esq.
and
Graubard Miller
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
Fax: (212) 818-8881
and
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Steven Levine, Chief Executive Officer
Fax: (212) 661-4936
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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 Parties hereby agree 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 submit 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 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, EBC, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Right Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. EBC shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 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 EBC with respect to the Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.
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 a majority of the then outstanding Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of EBC.
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.
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
[Company’s Signature Page to Right Agreement]
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY |
||
By: | /s/ Henry Farrell | |
Name: | Henry Farrell | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Right Agent’s Signature Page to Right Agreement]
10
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of June 19, 2017 by and between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Trustee ”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-218404, as amended, (the “ Registration Statement ”) for its initial public offering of securities (the “ IPO ”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (the “ 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, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“ EBC ”) is acting as the representative of the underwriters in the IPO; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, Bison Capital Holding Company Limited (the “ Sponsor ”) and EBC and/or their designees will be purchasing an aggregate of 388,750 units (the “ Initial Private Units ”) from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $3,887,500; and
WHEREAS, in the event EBC exercises its over-allotment option in full or in part, the Sponsor and EBC and/or their designees will purchase up to an aggregate of an additional 43,313 units (the “ Over-Allotment Private Units ,” together with the Initial Private Units, the “ Private Units ”) for an aggregate purchase price of up to $433,130; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, $53,812,500 of the net proceeds of the IPO and sale of the Private Units ($61,884,375 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) 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, no par value per share (“ Ordinary Shares ”), issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the amounts 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 (the “ Trust Account ”) established by the Trustee at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
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(c) In a timely manner, invest and reinvest the Property as instructed by the Company, including, but not limited to, in United States "government securities" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 having a maturity of 180 days or less, and/or in any open ended investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraph (d) under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, 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, subject to Section 2 hereto;
(e) Notify the Company 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 the tax returns relating to income from the Property in the Trust Account or otherwise;
(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 in writing to do so;
(h) Render to the Company, and to such other person as the Company may instruct, 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 (the “ 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 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 EBC, 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 last date set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ 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.
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 obligations owed by the Company.
(b) The limited distributions referred to in Section 2(a) above shall be made only from income collected on the Property. Except as provided in Section 2(a) above, no other distributions from the Trust Account shall be permitted except in accordance with Section 1(i) hereof.
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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, Chief Financial Officer or[is there another position which should be included?] . In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i) and 2(a) 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) hereof, 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 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 Section, 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;
(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof and 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 Section 1(i) hereof solely in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial acquisition, share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “ Business Combination ”). 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. The Trustee shall refund to the Company the annual fee (on a pro rata basis) with respect to any period after the liquidation of the Trust Account;
(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) hereof, the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement.
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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 Sections 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 written 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 Section 1(c) hereof;
(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 bad faith, 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;
(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) or 2(a) above.
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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.
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 Section 1(i) hereof, and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 3(b) hereof.
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, applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such states and 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.
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(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i), 2(a) and 2(b) hereof (which may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of at least the same majority of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares attending and voting on such amendment at the relevant meeting as would be required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to pass a resolution thereunder to modify, amend or delete any provision thereof which corresponds to the same Section of this Agreement); provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote sought to amend this Agreement to extend to the time he would be entitled to a return of his pro rata amount in the Trust Account), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of EBC. 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.
(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
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Steven Nelson and Fran Wolf
Fax No.: (212) 616-7620
if to the Company, to:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaquaio Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer
Fax No.: +86 10 84446968, ext. 800
in either case with a copy to:
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 8 th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Steven Levine, Chief Executive Officer
Fax No.: (212) 661-4936
(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. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance. In the event that the Trustee has a claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Trustee will pursue such claim solely against the Company and not against the Property held in the Trust Account.
(h) The Trustee hereby consents to the inclusion of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in the Registration Statement and other materials relating to the IPO.
(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that EBC is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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Execution Version
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/ Sharmin Carter | |
Name: Sharmin Carter | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Trust Agent’s Signature Page to Trust Agreement]
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BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: James Jiayuan Tong | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer,
|
||
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
[Company’s Signature Page to Trust Agreement]
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Execution Version
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
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, Chi
Date:
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Steven Nelson Fran Wolf and Sharmin Carter
Re: | Trust Account No. - Termination Letter |
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“ Trustee ”), dated as of June 19, 2017 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with __________________ (a “ Target Business ”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “ Business Combination ”) on or about [insert date] . The Company shall notify you at least 48 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “ 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 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 it and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (the “ Instruction Letter ”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the 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, | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
And AGREED TO AND
ACKNOWLEDGED BY
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT B
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
Date:
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Steven Nelson, Fran Wolf and Sharmin Carter
Re: | Trust Account No. 530-160986 – Termination Letter |
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“ Trustee ”), dated as of June 19, 2017 (the “ 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 Account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 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 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, | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT C
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, China
[DATE]
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Steven Nelson, Fran Wolf and Sharmin Carter
Re: | Trust Account No. 530-160986 |
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of June 19, 2017 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $_______ of the interest income earned on the Property (as defined in the Trust Agreement) as of the date hereof. The Company needs such funds to pay for its tax obligations. 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]
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of June 19, 2017, by and among Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company (the “ Company ”), the undersigned parties listed under Investor on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “ Investors ”).
WHEREAS, the Investors collectively hold 1,509,375 shares of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (defined below) of the Company, among which up to 196,875 shares are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering do not exercise the over-allotment option in full or in part, issued prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Initial Shares ”);
WHEREAS, certain of the Investors are privately purchasing 388,750 Units (defined below) simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Initial Private Units ”), and such Investors will purchase up to 432,063 additional Units (“ Over-Allotment Private Units ,” together with the Initial Private Units, the “ Private Units ”) in the event the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering exercise the over-allotment option in full or in part;
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 Initial Shares, the Private Units and the Working Capital Units (defined below);
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 a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
“ Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“ 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 ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ Initial Private Units ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ 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.
“ Option Securities ” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“ Ordinary Shares ” means the Ordinary Shares of the Company, no par value.
“ Over-Allotment Private Units ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ Piggy-Back Registration ” is defined in Section 2.2.1.
“ Private Units ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ 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) all of the Initial Shares, (ii) all of the Private Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares) and (iii) all of the Working Capital Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares). Registrable Securities include any warrants, share capital 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) 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 Share Escrow Agreement dated as of June 19, 2017 by and among certain of 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, one right to receive one-tenth of one ordinary share automatically on the consummation of an initial business combination, and one Warrant to purchase one half of one Ordinary Share.
“ Warrants ” means the warrants of the Company underlying the Units, each to purchase one half 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) or Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or (ii) three months prior to the Release Date with respect to Initial Shares, the holders of a majority-in-interest of such Private Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or the Initial Shares, 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), Working Capital Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) or the Initial Shares, 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 demanding to include 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 three (3) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.
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.
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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; (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 registrable pursuant to the terms of the Unit Purchase Option issued to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. or its designees in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Unit Purchase Option ” and such registrable securities, the “ Option Securities ”) as to which “piggy-back” registration has been requested by the holders thereof, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares have not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), 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.
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.
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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 share 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.
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 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 and Option 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.
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(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of holders of Option Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons, Pro Rata, 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), the shares 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; and
(c) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities or of Option 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 and Option Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof and of the Unit Purchase Option, as applicable, 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.
2.3. Registrations on Form S-3 . The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time, request in writing that the Company 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.
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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 Chief Executive Officer 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.
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 or until such time as the Registrable Securities cease to be Registrable Securities as defined by the Agreement.
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.
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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.
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.
3.2. 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 fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration and (ix) the 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.
3.5. Limitations on Registration Rights . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. may not exercise its rights under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years after the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Company’s initial public offering, respectively, and (ii) EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. may not exercise its rights under Section 2.1 more than one time.
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 Indemnifying 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 reasonably 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.
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.
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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.
5. UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION .
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 and Option Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any of the Company’s share capital for sale or to include the Company’s share capital in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of share capital 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, or certified mail, return receipt acknowledged, postage prepaid, 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; or on the fifth business day following such mailing if made if sent by certified mail. 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.
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To the Company:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing, China
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor
New York, New York 10018
Attn: Louis E. Taubman
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.
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6.10. Remedies Cumulative . In the event that any party fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the other parties may proceed to protect and enforce their 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.
6.11. Governing Law . In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
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]
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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: | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Tittle: | CEO and CFO |
[Company’s Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
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INVESTORS: | ||
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Peixin Xu | |
Name: | Peixin Xu | |
Tittle: | Director |
[Bison Capital’s Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
16 |
/s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
James Jiayuan Tong |
[James Tong’s Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
17 |
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Steve Levine | |
Name: Steve Levine | ||
Title: CEO |
[EarlyBirdCapital’s Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
Name | Address | |
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited |
609-610 21
st
Century Tower, No. 40
|
|
James Jiayuan Tong |
2073 Maple Avenue,
|
|
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. |
366 Madison Avenue, New York,
New York 10017 |
19
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Version
June 19, 2017
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Re: Initial Public Offering
Gentlemen:
This letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) entered into by and between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company (the “ Company ”), and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., as representative of the underwriters (the “ Underwriters ”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of the Company’s units (the “ Units ”), each comprised of one ordinary share, no par value, of the Company (the “ Ordinary Shares ”), one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share, and one-half of one warrant (the “ Warrant ”), each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 15 hereof. In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.
2. (a) In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time, the undersigned shall take all reasonable steps to (1) cause the Trust Fund to be liquidated and distributed to the holders of the IPO Shares, and (2) cause the Company to liquidate as soon as reasonably practicable.
(b) The undersigned hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Fund and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to his, her or its Insider Shares or Private Units (“ Claim ”) and hereby waives any Claim the undersigned may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason whatsoever, but may, for the avoidance of doubt, have his, her or its Ordinary Shares purchased in the IPO or in the aftermarket redeemed upon liquidation of the Company if a Business Combination is not consummated. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Fund with respect to any Warrants, which will terminate on the Company’s liquidation.
(c) In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Fund, Bison Capital Holding Company Limited, a Cayman Islands company, (“ Bison Capital ”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) which the Company may become subject to as a result of any claim by any vendor or other person who is owed money by the Company for services rendered or products sold to or contracted for the Company, or by any target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Fund; provided that such indemnity shall not apply (i) if such vendor or prospective target business executes an agreement waiving any claims against the Trust Fund and (ii) to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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3. The undersigned will escrow all of his, her or its Insider Shares pursuant to the terms of a share escrow agreement which the Company will enter into with the undersigned and an escrow agent acceptable to the Company.
4. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, Bison Capital, and each of the undersigned directors and officers of the Company agree to present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire a target business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations Bison Capital, and each of the undersigned directors and officers might have.
5. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with any Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire, that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
6. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and will not accept any compensation or other cash payment for services rendered prior to, or in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Business Combination; provided that the Company shall be allowed to (i) repay working capital loans made by the undersigned or its affiliates to the Company in cash upon consummation of the Business Combination or, at the undersigned’s discretion, with respect to up to an aggregate of $500,000 of working capital loans from all lenders, by converting such loans into Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, as more fully described in the Registration Statement, (ii) repay a non-interest bearing loan in an aggregate amount of $------300,000 made to the Company by Bison Capital to cover the IPO expenses, (iii) pay $5,000 per month to Bison Capital for office space and related services, (iv) reimburse the undersigned and any affiliate of the undersigned for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and consummating a Business Combination, and (v) pay to the Company’s independent directors an annual retainer in an aggregate amount of $38,400 (to be prorated for a partial term), payable in arrears commencing on the first anniversary of the closing of the Company’s IPO and ending on the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or a Company liquidation.
7. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive or accept a finder’s fee or any other compensation in the event the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned originates a Business Combination.
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8. The undersigned officers and directors agree to be the officers and directors of the Company until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. The undersigned officers’ and directors’ biographical information included in the Registration Statement is true and accurate in all material respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the officers’ and directors’ biography and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). Each of the undersigned officers’ and directors’ FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Underwriters is true and accurate in all material respects.
9. Each of the undersigned represents and warrants that:
(a) He, she or it has never had a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state or foreign insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him, her or it, or any partnership in which he, she or it was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) (to the extent the undersigned is an individual) any corporation or business association of which he or she was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;
(b) He, she or it has never had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer been appointed by a court for his or her business or property, or any such partnership;
(c) He, she, or it has never been convicted of fraud in a civil or criminal proceeding;
(d) He, she, or it has never been convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses);
(e) He, she, or it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining or otherwise limiting him from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“ CFTC ”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity; or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities laws;
(f) He, she, or it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days his, her or its right to engage in any activity described in 9(e)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
(g) He, she or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) to have violated any federal, state, or foreign securities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;
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(h) He, she or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;
(i) He, she or it has never been the subject of, or a party to, any federal, state, or foreign judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any federal, state or foreign securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;
(j) He, she or it has never been the subject of, or party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member;
(k) He, she or it has never been convicted, of any felony or misdemeanor: (1) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, (2) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC, or (3) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;
(l) He, she or it was never subject to a final order of a state or foreign securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state or foreign authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state or foreign insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal or foreign banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration (“ NCUA ”) that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct;
(m) He, she or it has never been subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of the sale of the Units, restrained or enjoined him from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions, or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;
(n) He, she or it has never been subject to any order of the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions that orders him to cease and desist from committing or causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based anti-fraud provision of the foreign or federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 15(c) and Section 206(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “ Advisers Act ”) or any other rule or regulation thereunder, or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act;
(o) He, she or it has never filed (as a registrant or issuer), or been named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC that was the subject of a refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently, the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued;
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(p) He, she or it has never been subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property through the mail by means of false representations;
(q) He, she or it is not subject to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the CFTC; or the NCUA that bars the undersigned from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer, (ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking, or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities;
(r) He, she or it is not subject to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to Section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) or Section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Advisers Act that: (i) suspends or revokes the undersigned’s registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser, (ii) places limitations on the activities, functions or operations of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person, or (iii) bars the undersigned from being associated with any entity or from participating in the offering of any penny stock; and
(s) He, she or it has never been suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization (e.g., a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.
10. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to hold the current position/title in the Company (if applicable).
11. The undersigned hereby waives his, her or its right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any shares of the Ordinary Shares owned or to be owned by him, her or it, directly or indirectly, whether purchased prior to the IPO, in the IPO or in the aftermarket, and agrees that he, she or it will not seek redemption with respect to or otherwise sell, such shares in connection with any vote to approve a Business Combination or any tender offer in respect thereto, but may, for the avoidance of doubt, have his, her or its Ordinary Shares purchased in the IPO or in the aftermarket redeemed upon liquidation of the Company if a Business Combination is not consummated.
12. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the consummation of a Business Combination that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the IPO Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, unless the Company provides its public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their IPO shares upon approval of any such amendment at a price per share, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest income (net of taxes payable and any amounts released to the Company to fund working capital requirements), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
13. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining net assets are insufficient to complete such liquidation, Bison Capital agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation and agrees not to seek repayment for such expenses.
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14. In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. The Company and each of the undersigned hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as their respective agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this letter agreement. The Company and each undersigned 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 letter agreement.
15. As used herein, (i) a “ Business Combination ” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, contractual arrangement, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “ Insiders ” shall mean all officers, directors and shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) “ Insider Shares ” shall mean all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) “ IPO Shares ” shall mean the Ordinary Shares issued in the Company’s IPO; (v) “ Private Units ” shall mean the Units purchased in the private placement taking place simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s IPO; and the additional Units that will be purchased in a private placement upon the full or partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option for the Company’s IPO; (vi) “ Registration Statement ” means the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with respect to the IPO, and (vii) “ Trust Fund ” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s IPO will be deposited.
16. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this letter agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.
17. No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This letter agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and any successors and assigns thereof.
18. The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO.
[Signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Letter Agreement as of the date first written above.
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders-Bison Capital Acquisition Corp ]
7 |
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Peixin Xu | |
Name: | Peixin Xu | |
Title: | Director |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders-Bison Capital ]
8 |
/s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
James Jiayuan Tong |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders- James Jiayuan Tong ]
9 |
/s/ Peixin Xu | |
Peixin Xu |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders- Peixin Xu ]
10 |
/s/ Peng Jin | |
Peng Jin |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders- Peng Jin ]
11 |
/s/ Thomas Folinsbee | |
Thomas Folinsbee |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders- Thomas Folinsbee ]
12 |
/s/ Charles Vincent Prizzi | |
Charles Vincent Prizzi |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders- Charles Prizzi ]
13 |
/s/ Ning Wang | |
Ning Wang |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders-Ning Wang ]
14 |
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steve Levine | |
Name: | Steve Levine | |
Title: | CEO |
[ Signature Page to the Letter Agreement by Certain Insiders-EBC ]
15
Exhibit 10.4
Execution Version
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
June 19, 2017
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited
609-610 21 st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the securities of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and continuing until the earlier of (i) the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or (ii) the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”), Bison Capital Holding Company Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (“Bison Capital”), shall make available to the Company certain office space and administrative and support services as may be required by the Company from time to time, situated at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China (or any successor location). In exchange therefore, the Company shall pay Bison Capital the sum of $5,000 per month on the Effective Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date. Bison Capital hereby agrees that, solely with respect to this letter agreement, it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) that may be established upon the consummation of the IPO (“Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever relating to this letter agreement. No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party, provided that Bison Capital may assign this letter agreement to an affiliate without the prior written approval of the Company. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
Very truly yours, | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
[Company’s Signature Page to Administrative Support Letter Agreement]
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AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
BISON CAPITAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Peixin Xu | |
Name: | Peixin Xu | |
Title: | Director |
[Bison Capital’s Signature Page to Administrative Support Letter Agreement]
2
Exhibit 10.5
Execution Version
SHARE ESCROW AGREEMENT
SHARE ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of June 19, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”), by and among BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP., a British Virgin Islands Company (the “ Company ”), BISON CAPITAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED (“ Bison Capital ”) and JAMES JIAYUAN TONG (collectively with Bison Capital, the “ Initial Shareholders ”), EarlyBirdCapital and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation (the “ Escrow Agent ”).
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 19, 2017 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “ Underwriter ”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriter has agreed to purchase 5,250,000 units (the “ Units ”) of the Company, plus an additional 787,500 Units if the Underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value per share (an “ Ordinary Share ”), one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one warrant (a “ Warrant ”), each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share at $11.50 per whole share upon the Company’s initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement hereinafter a “ Business Combination ”), all as more fully described in the Company’s final Prospectus, dated June 19, 2017 (the “ Prospectus ”), comprising part of the Company’s registration statement, as amended, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218404) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), declared effective on June 19, 2017 (the “ 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 the “ 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 the Effective Date, certificates representing each Initial Shareholder’s respective Escrow Shares (and any applicable share power) shall be placed in escrow, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Initial Shareholder acknowledges that the certificate representing such Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares will be 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 and (y) the date on which the closing sale price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.50 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) for the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending one year after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination; provided, however, that if, subsequent to the Company’s consummation of the Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, share 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, release the Escrow Shares then held by it to the Initial Shareholders. The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of the 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. 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 787,500 Units of the Company in full within 30 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, an aggregate number of Escrow Shares held by them respectively determined by multiplying (a) 146,475 for Bison Capital or 50,400 for James Jiayuan Tong, as applicable, by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 787,500 minus the number of Ordinary Shares purchased by the Underwriters relating to the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 787,500. 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 its exercise thereof.
4. Rights of Initial Shareholders in Escrow Shares .
4.1. Voting Rights as a Shareholder . Subject to the terms of the Insider Letter 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.
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 shares 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) to any persons (including their affiliates and shareholders) participating in the private placement of the private units, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, members or affiliates of Bison Capital, (ii) amongst the Initial Shareholders or to the Company’s officers, directors and employees, (iii) 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, (iv) 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, (v) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Initial Shareholder, (vi) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vii) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities, (viii) by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased, or (ix) to the Company for cancellation as set forth in Section 3.2 hereof or in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, in each case, except for clause (ix) or with the Company’s prior consent, 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.
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4.4. Insider Letters . The Initial Shareholders have collectively executed a letter agreement with EBC and the Company, dated as indicated on Exhibit A hereto, and the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “ 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.
5.2. Indemnification . The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way arises out of 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 bad faith, 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.
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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.
5.7. Liability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own bad faith, 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; Jurisdiction . In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
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 EBC.
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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, 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, as follows:
If to the Company, to:
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
B609-610 21st Century Tower,
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Attn: James Jiayuan Tong, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer
Fax No.: +81 10 84446968 ext. 800
If to a Shareholder, to his address set forth in Exhibit A.
and if to the Escrow Agent, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30 th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Steve Nelson, Fran Wolf and Sharmin Carter
Fax No.: (212) 616-7620
A copy of any notice (which shall not constitute notice) sent hereunder shall be sent to:
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 8 th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Steven Levine, Chief Executive Officer
Fax No.: (212) 661-4936
and:
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor,
New York, New York 10018
Attn: Arila Zhou, Esq.
Fax No.: (212) 202-6380
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and:
Graubard Miller
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
Fax No. (212) 818-8881
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 the 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: | ||
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: James Jiayuan Tong | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
[Company’s Signature Page to Escrow Agreement]
7 |
INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS: | ||
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Peixin Xu | |
Name: Peixin Xu | ||
Title: Partner |
[Initial Shareholder’s Signature Page to Escrow Agreement]
8 |
/s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
James Jiayuan Tong |
[Initial Shareholder’s Signature Page to Escrow Agreement]
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ESCROW AGENT: | ||
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER | ||
& TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Henry Farrell | |
Name: Henry Farrell | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Escrow Agent’s Signature Page to Escrow Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
Name and Address of Initial Shareholder |
Number
of Shares |
Share
Certificate Number |
Date of
Insider Letter |
|||||||
Bison Capital Holding Company Limited
100016, China |
1,117,725
|
June 19, 2017 | ||||||||
James Jiayuan Tong
2073 Maple Avenue, Costa Mesa, California 92627 |
391,650
(among which, up to 50,400 shares are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercise in full or in part) |
June 19, 2017 |
Exhibit 10.7
EXECUTION VERSION
AMENDED AND RESTATED UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), made as of this 19 th day of June, 2017, by and between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands business company (the “ Company ”), having its principal place of business at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, and Bison Capital Holding Company Limited, a Cayman Island company, having its principal place of business at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China (the “ Purchaser ”) amends and replaces certain Amended and Restated Unit Subscription Agreement dated as of June 9, 2017by and between the Company and the Purchaser in its entirety.
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) under the Securities Act and/or Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Securities Act , the Company desires to sell in a private placement (the “ Offering ”) up to an aggregate of 387,500 units (the “ Units ”) of the Company, each Unit comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value per share (collectively, the “ Ordinary Shares ”), one right (collectively, the “ Rights ”) to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share (collectively, the “ Right Shares ”), to be governed by the Rights Agreement (defined herein), and one-half of one warrant (collectively, the “ Warrants ”) each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share (collectively, the “ Warrant Shares ”), to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (defined herein), on the consummation of an acquisition, share exchange, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “ Business Combination ”), for an aggregate purchase price of up to $4,018,750, or $10.00 per Unit.
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the Units and the Company wishes to accept such subscription on the terms herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Purchase and Issuance of the Units.
For the aggregate sum of $3,625,000 (the “ Initial Purchase Price ”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) 362,500 Units (the “Initial Units”) at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby conditionally agrees to purchase up to an additional 39,375 Units (collectively, the “ Additional Units ”) at $10.00 per Additional Unit for a purchase price of $393,750 (the “ Additional Purchase Price ” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “ Purchase Price ”), if, and only if, and only to the extent that the underwriters’ 30-day over-allotment option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) in the IPO (as defined below) is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be the number that is necessary to maintain in the Trust Account (as defined below) an amount equal to $10.25 per Ordinary Share sold to the public in the IPO. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.1. Closing . The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the Offering shall take place at the offices of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, 1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor, New York, New York, 10018 simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of 5,250,000 units consisting of Ordinary Shares, rights and warrants and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (each a “ Closing Date ”).
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1.2. Delivery of the Purchase Price . At least one business day prior to the effective date of the Company’s registration statement relating to the IPO (the “ Registration Statement ”), or the date of the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, if any, the Purchaser agrees to deliver the Initial Purchase Price or Additional Purchase Price, as the case may be, by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or any other agent designated by the Company which is hereby irrevocably authorized to deposit such funds on the applicable Closing Date to the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders, managed pursuant to that certain investment management trust agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and a trustee and into which substantially all of the net proceeds of the IPO (less than certain amount of fund not held in the trust account) will be deposited (the “ Trust Account ”). If the IPO is not consummated within 14 days of the date the Initial Purchase Price is delivered to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or any other agent designated by the Company, the Initial Purchase Price shall be returned to the Purchaser by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars, without interest or deduction.
1.3. Delivery of Unit Certificate . Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive a unit certificate representing the Units purchased hereunder.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1. No Government Recommendation or Approval . The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, or the Warrant Shares, or the Ordinary Shares underlying the Units (the “ Unit Shares ” and, collectively with the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, the “ Securities ”).
2.2. Organization . The Purchaser is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3. Private Offering . The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D (the “ Securities Act ”) and it is not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S. The Purchaser acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, Regulation D and/or Regulation S promulgated thereunder .
2.4. Authority . This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5. No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6. No Legal Advice from Company . The Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, the Purchaser is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
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2.7. Access to Information; Independent Investigation . Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Purchaser has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Purchaser understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8. Reliance on Representations and Warranties . The Purchaser understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9. No General Solicitation or General Advertising; No Directed Selling Efforts . The Purchaser is not aware of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in respect of the Securities, including (1) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television, radio, or the internet; and (2) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. The Purchaser is not aware of any form of “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States in respect of the Securities, which would include any activities undertaken for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States for the resale of the Securities, including placing an advertisement in a publication with a general circulation in the United States.2.10. Legend . The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Units, the Unit Shares, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, and the Warrant Shares when issued, shall bear a restrictive legend (the “ Legend ”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and the rules thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
2.10. Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability . The Purchaser is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Purchaser must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Securities are sold pursuant to: (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Securities and to afford a complete loss of the Purchaser’s investment in the Securities.
2.11. Investment Purposes . The Purchaser is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and the Purchaser has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity.
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2.12. Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company; Affiliate Status . The Purchaser acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, the Purchaser decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 144 ”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. The Purchaser agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Purchaser may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, the Purchaser agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions. Such Purchaser (a) acknowledges that after the issuance of the Securities, such Purchaser may be deemed an “affiliate” of the Company under the Securities Act, (b) acknowledges understanding the additional restrictions under the Securities Act applicable to affiliate of the Company, and (c) acknowledges that it had a full and fair opportunity and the means to obtain United States securities counsel and discuss such restrictions prior to entering into this Agreement.
2.13. No Governmental Consents . No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.14. Trading Activities . In the event that the Securities are listed on a stock exchange, the Purchaser’s trading activities, if any, with respect to the Shares will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws, rules and regulations, and the rules and regulations of such stock exchange.
2.15. Bad Actor The Purchaser is not subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Purchaser has exercised reasonable care to determine whether he, she or it is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Purchaser will not subject the Company to any Disqualification Event. There are no matters that would have triggered disqualification under Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act but occurred before September 23, 2013.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchasers that:
3.1. Valid Issuance of Share Capital . The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is (i) an unlimited number of Ordinary Shares and (ii) an unlimited number of preferred shares. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 1,437,500 Ordinary Shares (of which 187,500 Ordinary Shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) and no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
3.2. Title to Securities . Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, a rights agreement to be entered into with a mutually agreeable rights agent on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Rights Agreement ”) and a warrant agreement to be entered into with a mutually agreeable warrant agent on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), as the case may be, each of the Units, the Rights, the Warrants and the Unit Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. When the Units are issued, the Right Shares and Warrant Shares will have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement and Warrant Agreement, as the case may be, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Right Shares and Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the action of the Purchaser.
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3.3. Organization and Qualification . The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a British Virgin Islands business company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4. Authorization; Enforcement . (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Rights and Rights Agreement, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5. No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, or the Unit Shares, or Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.
3.6. No Registration . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Private Units pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any authorized representative acting on its behalf, has taken or will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.
3.7. No Integration . Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates have, directly or indirectly through any agent, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Units in a manner that would require registration under the Securities Act.
3.8. No General Solicitation or General Advertising; No Directed Selling Efforts . Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) including (1) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television, radio, or the internet; and (2) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising; nor has it seen or been aware of any activity that, to its knowledge, constitutes general solicitation or general advertising. Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has engaged in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States in respect of the Securities, which would include any activities undertaken for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States for the resale of the Securities, including placing an advertisement in a publication with a general circulation in the United States, nor has it seen or been aware of any activity that, to its knowledge, constitutes directed selling efforts in the United States.
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4. Legends
4.1. Legend . The Company will issue the Units, the Rights, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Right Shares and the Warrant Shares, as the case may be, purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. Unless counsel to the Company advises otherwise, the Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, SUCH SECURITIES MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IF THE COMPANY AND TRANSFER AGENT FOR SUCH SECURITIES HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. AND BISON CAPITAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2. Purchaser’s Compliance . Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3. Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities . The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
4.4. Registration Rights . The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
5. Lock-up
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants and the Unit Shares shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until after the consummation of a Business Combination, except to permitted transferees (as permitted in the Share Escrow Agreement to be entered into by and between an escrow agent and the Purchaser).
6. Securities Laws Restrictions
In addition to any restrictions contained herein, the Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (i) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective, or (ii) that an exempt from registration is available under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Commission thereunder and the transfer is made in accordance with all applicable state securities laws.
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7. Waiver of Distributions from Trust Account
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions from the Trust Account.
8. Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1. Rescission Waiver . The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “ Claims ”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2. No Recourse Against Trust Account . The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.3. Section 8 Waiver . The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9. Terms of the Units
The Units shall be substantially identical to the units offered in the IPO as set forth in an underwriting agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., except as provided for herein, and principally, (i) the Units will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein, (ii) the Units are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act, and (iii) the Warrants will be non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the initial Purchaser or its permitted transferees as set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The Purchaser is also agreeing to certain obligations with respect to the Units as set forth in that certain insider letter to be entered into in connection with the IPO.
10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the British Virgin Islands for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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11. Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1. Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3. Amendment . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4. Binding upon Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
12. Notices; Indemnity
12.1. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, (c) sent via facsimile, or (d) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, (iii) if sent via facsimile, when receipt is acknowledged, or (iv) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
12.2. Indemnification . Each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14. Survival; Severability
14.1. Survival . The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2. Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
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15. Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16. Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
[Intentionally Left Blank]
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: | James Jiayuan Tong | |
Title: |
Chief
Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
[ Signature Page to Private Units Subscription Agreement-the Company ]
Accepted and agreed this 19 th day of June 2017
BISON CAPITAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Peixin Xu | |
Name: | Peixin Xu | |
Title: | Director |
[ Signature Page to Private Units Subscription Agreement-Bison Capital ]
Exhibit 10.11
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) made as of this 19 th day of June, 2017, by and between Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands business company (the “ Company ”), having its principal place of business at 609-610 21 st Century Tower, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., having its principal place of business at 366 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (the “ Purchaser ”), amends and replaces certain Unit Subscription Agreement dated as of June 9, 2017 by and between the Company and the Purchaser in its entirety.
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) under the Securities Act, the Company desires to sell in a private placement (the “ Offering ”) up to an aggregate of 28,750 units (the “ Units ”) of the Company, each Unit comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value per share (collectively, the “ Ordinary Shares ”), one right (collectively, the “ Rights ”) to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share (collectively, the “ Right Shares ”), to be governed by the Rights Agreement (defined herein), and one-half of one warrant (collectively, the “ Warrants ”) each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share (collectively, the “ Warrant Shares ”), to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (defined herein), on the consummation of an acquisition, share exchange, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “ Business Combination ”), for an aggregate purchase price of up to $301,875, or $10.00 per Unit.
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the Units and the Company wishes to accept such subscription on the terms herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Purchase and Issuance of the Units.
For the aggregate sum of $262,500 (the “ Initial Purchase Price ”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) 26,250 Units (the “Initial Units”) at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby conditionally agrees to purchase up to an additional 3,937 Units (collectively, the “ Additional Units ”) at $10.00 per Additional Unit for a purchase price of $39,375 (the “ Additional Purchase Price ” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “ Purchase Price ”), if, and only if, and only to the extent that the underwriters’ 30-day over-allotment option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) in the IPO (as defined below) is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be the number that is necessary to maintain in the Trust Account (as defined below) an amount equal to $10.25 per Ordinary Share sold to the public in the IPO. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.1. Closing . The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the Offering shall take place at the offices of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, 1450 Broadway, 26 th Floor, New York, New York, 10018 simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of 5,250,000 units consisting of Ordinary Shares, rights and warrants and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (each a “ Closing Date ”).
1.2. Delivery of the Purchase Price . At least one business day prior to the effective date of the Company’s registration statement relating to the IPO (the “ Registration Statement ”), or the date of the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, if any, the Purchaser agrees to deliver the Initial Purchase Price or Additional Purchase Price, as the case may be, by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or any other agent designated by the Company which is hereby irrevocably authorized to deposit such funds on the applicable Closing Date to the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders, managed pursuant to that certain investment management trust agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and a trustee and into which substantially all of the net proceeds of the IPO (less than certain amount of fund not held in the trust account) will be deposited (the “ Trust Account ”). If the IPO is not consummated within 14 days of the date the Initial Purchase Price is delivered to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company or any other agent designated by the Company, the Initial Purchase Price shall be returned to the Purchaser by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars, without interest or deduction.
1.3. Delivery of Unit Certificate . Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive a unit certificate representing the Units purchased hereunder.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1. No Government Recommendation or Approval . The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, or the Warrant Shares, or the Ordinary Shares underlying the Units (the “ Unit Shares ” and, collectively with the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, the “ Securities ”).
2.2. Organization . The Purchaser is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3. Private Offering . The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D (the “ Securities Act ”) and it is not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S. The Purchaser acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, Regulation D and/or Regulation S promulgated thereunder .
2.4. Authority . This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5. No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6. No Legal Advice from Company . The Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, the Purchaser is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
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2.7. Access to Information; Independent Investigation . Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Purchaser has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Purchaser understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8. Reliance on Representations and Warranties . The Purchaser understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9. No General Solicitation or General Advertising; No Directed Selling Efforts . The Purchaser is not aware of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in respect of the Securities, including (1) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television, radio, or the internet; and (2) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. The Purchaser is not aware of any form of “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States in respect of the Securities, which would include any activities undertaken for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States for the resale of the Securities, including placing an advertisement in a publication with a general circulation in the United States.2.10. Legend . The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Units, the Unit Shares, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, and the Warrant Shares when issued, shall bear a restrictive legend (the “ Legend ”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and the rules thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
2.10. Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability . The Purchaser is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Purchaser must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Securities are sold pursuant to: (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Securities and to afford a complete loss of the Purchaser’s investment in the Securities.
2.11. Investment Purposes . The Purchaser is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and the Purchaser has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity.
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2.12. Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company; Affiliate Status . The Purchaser acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, the Purchaser decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 144 ”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. The Purchaser agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Purchaser may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, the Purchaser agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions. Such Purchaser (a) acknowledges that after the issuance of the Securities, such Purchaser may be deemed an “affiliate” of the Company under the Securities Act, (b) acknowledges understanding the additional restrictions under the Securities Act applicable to affiliate of the Company, and (c) acknowledges that it had a full and fair opportunity and the means to obtain United States securities counsel and discuss such restrictions prior to entering into this Agreement.
2.13. No Governmental Consents . No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.14. Trading Activities . In the event that the Securities are listed on a stock exchange, the Purchaser’s trading activities, if any, with respect to the Shares will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws, rules and regulations, and the rules and regulations of such stock exchange.
2.15. Bad Actor The Purchaser is not subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Purchaser has exercised reasonable care to determine whether he, she or it is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Purchaser will not subject the Company to any Disqualification Event. There are no matters that would have triggered disqualification under Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act but occurred before September 23, 2013.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchasers that:
3.1. Valid Issuance of Share Capital . The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is (i) an unlimited number of Ordinary Shares and (ii) an unlimited number of preferred shares. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 1,437,500 Ordinary Shares (of which 187,500 Ordinary Shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) and no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
3.2. Title to Securities . Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, a rights agreement to be entered into with a mutually agreeable rights agent on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Rights Agreement ”) and a warrant agreement to be entered into with a mutually agreeable warrant agent on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), as the case may be, each of the Units, the Rights, the Warrants and the Unit Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. When the Units are issued, the Right Shares and Warrant Shares will have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement and Warrant Agreement, as the case may be, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Right Shares and Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the action of the Purchaser.
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3.3. Organization and Qualification . The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a British Virgin Islands business company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4. Authorization; Enforcement . (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Rights and Rights Agreement, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5. No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants, or the Unit Shares, or Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.
3.6. No Registration . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Private Units pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any authorized representative acting on its behalf, has taken or will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.
3.7. No Integration . Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates have, directly or indirectly through any agent, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Units in a manner that would require registration under the Securities Act.
3.8. No General Solicitation or General Advertising; No Directed Selling Efforts . Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) including (1) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television, radio, or the internet; and (2) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising; nor has it seen or been aware of any activity that, to its knowledge, constitutes general solicitation or general advertising. Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has engaged in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States in respect of the Securities, which would include any activities undertaken for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States for the resale of the Securities, including placing an advertisement in a publication with a general circulation in the United States, nor has it seen or been aware of any activity that, to its knowledge, constitutes directed selling efforts in the United States.
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4. Legends
4.1. Legend . The Company will issue the Units, the Rights, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Right Shares and the Warrant Shares, as the case may be, purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. Unless counsel to the Company advises otherwise, the Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, SUCH SECURITIES MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IF THE COMPANY AND TRANSFER AGENT FOR SUCH SECURITIES HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. AND EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2. Purchaser’s Compliance . Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3. Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities . The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
4.4. Registration Rights . The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
5. Lock-up
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares, the Warrants and the Unit Shares shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until after the consummation of a Business Combination, except to permitted transferees (as permitted in the Share Escrow Agreement to be entered into by and between an escrow agent and the Purchaser). The Units, the Rights, the Warrants, the Unit Shares, the Warrant Shares, and the Right Shares will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will therefore be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or commencement of sales of the IPO, subject to certain limited exceptions, pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual. Accordingly, the Units, the Rights, the Warrants, the Unit Shares, the Warrant Shares, and the Right Shares may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement except to any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the IPO and the bona fide officers or partners of the Purchaser and any such participating underwriter or selected dealer nor may they be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person during such 180-day period.
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6. Securities Laws Restrictions
In addition to any restrictions contained herein, the Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (i) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective, or (ii) that an exempt from registration is available under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Commission thereunder and the transfer is made in accordance with all applicable state securities laws.
7. Waiver of Distributions from Trust Account
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions from the Trust Account.
8. Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1. Rescission Waiver . The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “ Claims ”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2. No Recourse Against Trust Account . The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.3. Section 8 Waiver . The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9. Terms of the Units
The Units shall be substantially identical to the units offered in the IPO as set forth in an underwriting agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., except as provided for herein, and principally, (i) the Units will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein, (ii) the Units are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act, and (iii) the Warrants will be non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the initial Purchaser or its permitted transferees as set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The Purchaser is also agreeing to certain obligations with respect to the Units as set forth in that certain insider letter to be entered into in connection with the IPO.
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10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the British Virgin Islands for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11. Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1. Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3. Amendment . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4. Binding upon Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
12. Notices; Indemnity
12.1. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, (c) sent via facsimile, or (d) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, (iii) if sent via facsimile, when receipt is acknowledged, or (iv) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
12.2. Indemnification . Each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14. Survival; Severability
14.1. Survival . The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
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14.2. Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15. Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16. Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
[Intentionally Left Blank]
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
Name: James Jiayuan Tong | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director |
[ Signature Page to Private Units Subscription Agreement-the Company ]
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Accepted and agreed this
_19 th day of June 2017
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steve Levine | |
Name: Steve Levine | ||
Title: CEO |
[ Signature Page to Private Units Subscription Agreement-Bison Capital ]
11
Exhibit 99.1
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $52.5 Million Initial Public Offering
New York City & Hong Kong, June 19, 2017 / Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BCACU, the “Company” or “Bison”) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 5,250,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed in on The NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) and trade under the ticker symbol “BCACU” beginning June 20, 2017. Each unit consists of one ordinary share, one half of one warrant, each whole warrant to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per whole share, and one right to receive one-tenth of one ordinary share upon the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares, warrants and rights are expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “BCAC,” “BCACW,” and “BCACR,” respectively.
The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 787,500 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any.
The offering is expected to close on June 23, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., acted as sole book-running manager and Chardan and I-Bankers acted as co-managers of the offering.
A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2017. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov .
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.
About Bison
Bison is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company's efforts to identify a target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although it intends to focus on businesses that have their primary operations located in Asia and North America in the healthcare, consumer services and media/entertainment industries. Bison is being sponsored by Bison Capital Holding Company Limited.
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.
Bison
Capital Acquisition Corp.
+1 9493506999
James
J. Tong
CEO
jamestong@bisonholding.com
Source: Bison
Exhibit 99.2
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. Completes $52,500,000 Initial Public Offering
23 June, 2017, ( ) ET from Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
NEW YORK and HONG KONG, June 23, 2017 Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: BCACU) ("Bison" or the "Company"), a company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, today announced the closing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 5,250,000 units at $10.00 per unit, raising gross proceeds of $52,500,000. The units commenced trading on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 on The NASDAQ Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "BCACU." Each unit issued in the initial public offering consists of one ordinary share, one right to receive one-tenth of an ordinary share on the consummation of an initial business combination, and one warrant to acquire one-half of one ordinary share at $11.50 per full share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the shares, warrants and rights are expected to be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols "BCAC," "BCACW" and "BCACR," respectively.
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. acted as sole book-running manager for the offering and Charden, I-Bankers Securities, acted as co-manager for the offering. Bison has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 787,500 additional units to cover over-allotments.
Of the proceeds received from the consummation of the initial public offering and a simultaneous private placement of units, $53,812,500 or $10.25 per unit was placed in trust. An audited balance sheet of the Company as of June 23, 2015 reflecting receipt of the proceeds upon consummation of the IPO and the private placement will be included as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the SEC.
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC acted as U.S. counsel to the Company, Ogier acted as British Virgin Islands counsel to the Company and Graubard Miller acted as counsel to the underwriters.
A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2017. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the 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.
This offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained by contacting EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov .
About Bison
Bison is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), formed for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company's efforts to identify a target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, with focus on business located in Asia and North America in the healthcare, consumer services and media/entertainment industries. Bison is being sponsored by Bison Capital Holding Company Limited.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "seeks" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Bison management's current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of Bison's final prospectus for its offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
+1 9493506999
James J. Tong
CEO
jamestong@bisonholding.com
Source: Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
Exhibit 99.3
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
CHARTER
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. | STATUS |
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is a committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”).
2. | PURPOSE |
The Committee is appointed by the Board for the primary purposes of:
● | Performing the Board’s oversight responsibilities as they relate to the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, financial reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance, including, among other things: |
● | the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements; |
● | the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
● | review of the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence; and |
● | the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent auditors; |
● | Maintaining, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of communication between the Board and the Company’s financial management, internal auditors and independent auditors, and |
● | Preparing the report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules. |
3. | COMPOSITION AND QUALIFICATIONS |
The Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall be comprised of three or more directors (as determined from time to time by the Board), each of whom shall meet the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”), the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and all other applicable laws.
Each member of the Committee shall be financially literate and at least one member of the Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities, as each such qualification is interpreted by the Board in its business judgment. In addition, at least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined by the SEC.
4. | RESPONSIBILITIES |
The Committee will:
1. Review and discuss the annual audited financial statements and the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management and the independent auditors. In connection with such review, the Committee will:
● | Discuss with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (as may be modified or supplemented) and the matters in the written disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence; |
● | Review significant changes in accounting or auditing policies; |
● | Review with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties encountered in the course of their audit, including any change in the scope of the planned audit work and any restrictions placed on the scope of such work and management’s response to such problems or difficulties; |
● | Review with the independent auditors, management and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls; |
● | Review reports required to be submitted by the independent auditor concerning: (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of such alternatives, and the accounting treatment preferred by the independent auditors; and (c) any other material written communications with management; |
● | Review (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analysis of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements and the effects of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and |
● | Discuss policies and procedures concerning earnings press releases and review the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particular attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. |
2. Review and discuss the quarterly financial statements and the Company’s disclosures provided in periodic quarterly reports including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor, such review to include taking those actions, if applicable, listed in item 1 under this section 4.
3. Oversee the external audit coverage. The Company’s independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Committee, which has the direct authority and responsibility to appoint, retain, compensate, terminate, select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent auditors. In connection with its oversight of the external audit coverage, the Committee will have authority to:
● | Appoint and replace (subject to shareholder approval, if deemed advisable by the Board) the independent auditors; |
● | Approve the engagement letter and the fees to be paid to the independent auditors; |
● | Pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors and the related fees for such services other than prohibited nonauditing services as promulgated under rules and regulations of the SEC (subject to the inadvertent de minimis exceptions set forth in the Act and the SEC rules); |
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● | Monitor and obtain confirmation and assurance as to the independent auditors’ independence, including ensuring that they submit on a periodic basis (not less than annually) to the Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company. The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors and for taking appropriate action in response to the independent auditors’ report to satisfy itself of their independence; |
● | At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditors describing: the firm’s internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and to assess the independent auditors’ independence, all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company; |
● | Meet with the independent auditors prior to the annual audit to discuss planning and staffing of the audit; |
● | Review and evaluate the performance of the independent auditors, as the basis for a decision to reappoint or replace the independent auditors; |
● | Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors, including but not limited to, as required by all applicable laws and listing rules; and |
● | Assure regular rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner by setting clear policies for audit partner rotation and by having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit, as required by the Act, and consider whether rotation of the independent auditor is required to ensure independence. |
4. Oversee internal audit coverage. In connection with its oversight responsibilities, the Committee will:
● | Review the appointment or replacement of the senior internal auditing executive; |
● | Review, in consultation with management, the independent auditors and the senior internal auditing executive, the plan and scope of internal audit activities; |
● | Review internal audit activities, budget and staffing; and |
● | Review significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing department and management’s responses to such reports. |
5. Review, with the independent auditors and the senior internal auditing executive, the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls.
6. Resolve any differences in financial reporting between management and the independent auditors.
7. Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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8. Discuss policies and guidelines to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management is undertaken.
9. Meet periodically and at least four times per year with management to review and assess the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the manner in which such risks are being monitored and controlled.
10. Meet periodically (not less than annually) in separate executive session with each of the chief financial officer, the senior internal auditing executive, and the independent auditors.
11. Review and approve all “related party transactions” requiring disclosure under SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404, in accordance with the policy set forth in Section 6 below.
12. Review periodically with the Company’s outside legal counsel (i) legal and regulatory matters which may have a material effect on the financial statements, and (ii) corporate compliance policies or codes of conduct.
13. As it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside legal, accounting or other advisers.
14. Report regularly to the Board with respect to Committee activities.
15. Prepare the report of the Committee required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the proxy statement for each annual meeting.
16. Review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.
17. Monitor compliance, on a regularly scheduled basis, with the terms of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) and, if any noncompliance is identified, promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise cause the Company to come into compliance with the terms of the Offering.
18. Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
19. Determine the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.
20. Review and approve all payments made to the Company’s existing holders, executive officers or directors and their respective affiliates.
21. Evaluate the Committee’s own performance and report that it has done so to the Board.
5. | PROCEDURES |
1. Action .
A majority of the members of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members. However, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services, provided the decision is reported to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
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2. Fees.
The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation: (a) to outside legal, accounting or other advisors employed by the Committee; and (b) for ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
3. Limitations.
While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP. This is the responsibility of management and the independent auditors.
6. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS POLICY |
1. Definitions.
A “Related Party Transaction” is any transaction directly or indirectly involving any Related Party that would need to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Under Item 404(a), the Company is required to disclose any transaction occurring since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, involving the Company where the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related Party Transaction” also includes any material amendment or modification to an existing Related Party Transaction.
“Related Party” means any of the following:
● | a director (which term when used herein includes any director nominee); |
● | an executive officer; |
● | a person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's common stock (a “5% shareholder”); or |
● | a person known by the Company to be an immediate family member of any of the foregoing. |
“Immediate family member” means a child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner.
2. Identification of Potential Related Party Transactions.
Related Party Transactions will be brought to management's and the Board's attention in a number of ways. Each of the Company’s directors and executive officers shall inform the Chairman of the Committee of any potential Related Party Transactions. In addition, each such director and executive officer shall complete a questionnaire on an annual basis designed to elicit information about any potential Related Party Transactions.
Any potential Related Party Transactions that are brought to the Committee’s attention shall be analyzed by our the Committee, in consultation with outside counsel or members of management, as appropriate, to determine whether the transaction or relationship does, in fact, constitute a Related Party Transaction requiring compliance with this Policy.
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3. Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions.
At each of its meetings, the Committee shall be provided with the details of each new, existing or proposed Related Party Transaction, including the terms of the transaction, any contractual restrictions that the Company has already committed to, the business purpose of the transaction, and the benefits to the Company and to the relevant Related Party. In determining whether to approve a Related Party Transaction, the Committee shall consider, among other factors, the following factors to the extent relevant to the Related Party Transaction:
● | whether the terms of the Related Party Transaction are fair to the Company and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a Related Party; |
● | whether there are business reasons for the Company to enter into the Related Party Transaction; |
● | whether the Related Party Transaction would impair the independence of an outside director; |
● | whether the Related Party Transaction would present an improper conflict of interests for any director or executive officer of the Company, taking into account the size of the transaction, the overall financial position of the director, executive officer or Related Party, the direct or indirect nature of the director's, executive officer's or Related Party's interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Committee deems relevant; and |
● | any pre-existing contractual obligations. |
Any member of the Committee who has an interest in the transaction under discussion shall abstain from voting on the approval of the Related Party Transaction, but may, if so requested by the Chairman of the Committee, participate in some or all of the Committee's discussions of the Related Party Transaction. Upon completion of its review of the transaction, the Committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the Related Party Transaction.
A Related Party Transaction entered into without pre-approval of the Committee shall not be deemed to violate this Policy, or be invalid or unenforceable, so long as the transaction is brought to the Committee as promptly as reasonably practical after it is entered into or after it becomes reasonably apparent that the transaction is covered by this Policy.
A Related Party Transaction entered into prior to the effective date of this Charter shall not be required to be reapproved by the Committee.
7. | DISCLOSURE |
If required by the rules of the SEC or any of any exchange or national listing market system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, this Charter, as amended from time to time, shall be made available to the public on the Company’s website.
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Exhibit 99.4
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
CHARTER
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following Compensation Committee Charter (the “ Charter ”) was adopted by the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp., a British Virgin Islands company (the “ Company ”).
1. Members . The Board shall appoint the members of the Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”). The Committee shall consist of at least two directors of the Board, and must be comprised solely of “independent” directors of the Board who shall also satisfy such other criteria imposed on members of the Committee pursuant to the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”), the listing standards of any exchange or national listing market system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading (including, without limitation, The NASDAQ Capital Market) (the “ Principal Market ”), any other applicable laws or regulations, and any additional requirements that the Board deems appropriate. Each appointed member of the Committee may be removed by the Board at any time, with or without cause. Unless the Board elects a Chair of the Committee, the Committee shall elect a Chair by majority vote. Each Committee member shall have one vote.
2. Purpose . In addition to such other duties as may be assigned to the Committee by the Board from time to time, the purpose of the Committee is to represent and assist the Board in (a) discharging its responsibilities for approving and evaluating the officer compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company, (b) reviewing and recommending to the Board regarding compensation to be provided to the Company’s employees and directors, and (c) implementing and administering the equity compensation plans of the Company. The Committee shall ensure that the Company’s compensation programs are competitive, designed to attract and retain highly qualified directors, officers and employees, encourage high performance, promote accountability and assure that employee interests are aligned with the interests of the Company’s shareholders.
3. Duties and Responsibilities . The Committee shall, among its duties and responsibilities as may be delegated to the Committee by the Board, and in addition to any duties and responsibilities imparted to the Committee by the SEC or any applicable Principal Market or any other applicable laws or regulations:
(a) Determine, in executive session at which the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “ CEO ”) is not present, the compensation for the Company’s CEO or President, if such person is acting as the CEO.
(b) Review and determine the compensation of the executive officers of the Company other than the CEO based upon the recommendation of the CEO and such other customary factors that the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.
(c) Recommend awards and/or bonuses to be granted to executive officers of the Company under the Company’s equity plans and other compensation or benefit plans or policies as approved by the Board or the Committee.
(d) Approve the overall amount or percentage of plan and/or bonus awards to be granted to all Company employees and delegate to the Company’s executive management the right and power to specifically grant such awards to each Company employee within the aggregate limits and parameters set by the Committee.
(e) Review and evaluate the performance of the CEO and the other executive officers of the Company;
(f) Review and approve the design of other benefit plans pertaining to executives and employees of the Company.
(g) Prepare and approve such reports on compensation as are necessary for filing with the SEC and other government bodies, including in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
(h) Review, recommend to the Board, and administer all plans that require “disinterested administration” under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) Approve the amendment or modification of any compensation or benefit plan pertaining to executives or employees of the Company that does not require shareholder approval.
(j) Review and recommend to the Board the adoption of or changes to the compensation of the Company’s independent directors.
(k) Retain (at the Company’s expense) outside consultants and obtain assistance from members of management as the Committee deems appropriate in the exercise of its authority.
(l) Make reports and recommendations to the Board within the scope of its functions and advise the officers of the Company regarding various personnel matters as may be raised with the Committee.
(m) Approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s executive officers and employees.
(n) Review the form, terms and provisions of employment and similar agreements with the Company’s executive officers and any amendments thereto.
(o) To the extent the same has been adopted, review, at least annually, the compensation philosophy of the Company.
The powers and responsibilities delegated by the Board to the Committee in this Charter or otherwise shall be exercised and carried out by the Committee as it deems appropriate without requirement of Board approval, and any decision made by the Committee (including any decision to exercise or refrain from exercising any of the powers delegated to the Committee hereunder) shall be at the Committee’s sole discretion. While acting within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it, the Committee shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Committee shall have the power to determine which matters are within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it. To the extent that the Company’s securities are not listed or quoted on a Principal Market, the Committee shall determine which of the aforementioned duties and responsibilities it shall undertake or shall be applicable to the Committee.
4. Meetings; Reports . The Committee will meet as often as it deems necessary or appropriate, in its judgment, either in person or telephonically, and at such times and places as the Committee members determine. Face to face meetings shall be encouraged at least twice each year. The majority of the members of the Committee constitutes a quorum and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Committee. Minutes will be kept of each meeting of the Committee. The Chairman of the Committee shall report to the Board following meetings of the Committee and as otherwise requested by the Chairman of the Board. The Committee shall also make reports and recommendations to the Board within the scope of its functions.
5. Compensation Consultant . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other adviser retained by the Committee. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a compensation consultant, legal counsel or any other adviser retained by the Committee.
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Before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the Committee shall consider the independence of each such adviser by taking into account the following factors and any other factors required by the Principal Market or the SEC and corresponding rules that may be amended from time to time, including any exceptions permitted by such rules:
(i) the provision of other services to the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser (the “ Advisory Firm ”);
(ii) the amount of fees received from the Company by the Advisory Firm, as a percentage of the total revenue of the Advisory Firm;
(iii) the policies and procedures of the Advisory Firm or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;
(iv) any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or adviser with a member of the Committee;
(v) any stock of the Company owned by the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser; and
(vi) any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel, other adviser or the Advisory Firm.
6. Review of Charter . The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes thereto to the Board.
7. Self-Assessment . The Committee will annually evaluate the Committee’s own performance and report that it has done so to the Board.
8. Delegation by Committee . The Committee may delegate authority consistent with this Charter to one or more Committee members or subcommittees comprised of one or more Committee members when appropriate. Any such member, members or subcommittee shall be subject to this Charter. The decisions of any such member, members or subcommittees to which authority is delegated under this paragraph shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
9. Amendment . Any amendment or other modification of this Charter shall be made and approved by the full Board.
10. Disclosure of Charter . If required by the rules of the SEC or any Principal Market, this Charter, as amended from time to time, shall be made available to the public on the Company’s website or the Company’s SEC filings.
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