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): May 14, 2020

 

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   001-39288   84-5042965
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission   (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)   File Number)   Identification No.)

 

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(317) 590-6959

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading
Symbol(s)
  Name of each exchange on
which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one redeemable warrant   NOVSU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   NOVS   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable warrants, exercisable for shares of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   NOVSW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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 x

 

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 May 14, 2020 the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-237877) (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the initial public offering of units of Novus Capital Corporation (the “Company”) was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

On May 14, 2020, the Company entered into various agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. The Company also filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The material terms of such agreements and the amended and restated certificate of incorporation are fully described in the Company’s final prospectus, dated May 14, 2020 as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2020. This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed solely to file such executed agreements and amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

 

Item 5.03.Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit   Description
     
1.1   Underwriting Agreement between the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., as representative of the underwriters.
     
1.2   Business Combination Marketing Agreement between the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
     
4.1   Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.
     
10.1   Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.
     
10.2   Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company’s Initial Stockholders.
     
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and certain security holders.
     
99.1   Press Release.

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: May 20, 2020

 

  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Vincent Donargo
    Name: Vincent Donargo
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

3

Exhibit 1.1

 

10,000,000 Units

 

Novus Capital Corporation

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York

May 14, 2020

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

As Representative of the Underwriters

named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (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 10,000,000 units of the Company (the “Firm Units”) at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.80 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and one redeemable warrant (“Warrant”), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided for in the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 below). The Common Stock 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, subject to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering (defined below) and the sale of the Private Warrants (defined in Section 1.3.3) and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. 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.

  

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 second (2nd) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Firm Units at the offices of the Representative, or at such earlier time and/or such other place as 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. On the Closing Date, an aggregate of $100,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and Private Warrants shall be deposited into the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) 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 expenses and fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company on the Closing Date upon delivery of certificates representing the Firm Units (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) or through the facilities of 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 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” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which national banks in New York, New York are not open for business; provided, however, for clarification, that a Business Day shall include any day during which such banks are authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York are generally are open for use by customers on such day. As used herein, the term “Public Stockholders” means the holders of Common Stock 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 Common Stock in the Offering or in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares).

 

 

1.2.Over-Allotment Option

 

1.2.1.      Grant of Option. The Representative shall have the option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase all or less than all of an additional 1,500,000 units of the Company (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 $9.80 per Option Unit.

 

1.2.2.      Exercise of Option. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised by the Representative as to all or any part of the Option Units at any time and from time to time within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below). 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 may be exercised by oral notice from the Representative to the Company, which must be confirmed in accordance with the notice provisions of 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, which date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than ten (10) full Business Days after the date of the notice (the “Option Closing Date”), at the offices of the Representative, or at such other time and 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: $9.80 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery of certificates representing the Option Units (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative), or through the facilities of DTC for the account of the Representative. An additional $0.20 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account from the sale of Private Warrants so that $10.00 per share of Common Stock sold in the Offering is deposited in the Trust Account. The Option Units shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Option Units for delivery at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

 

1.3.Private Placements.

 

1.3.1.      In March 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,875,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Insider Shares”), for the aggregate consideration of $25,000, 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 be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Registration Statement. The holders of the Insider Shares 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 holders of the Insider Shares shall not have conversion rights with respect to the Insider Shares nor shall the holders be entitled to sell such Insider Shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination. If the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised by the Underwriters in full or in part, up to an aggregate of 375,000 Insider Shares shall be required to be forfeited by the holders thereof, as is necessary to maintain the beneficial ownership percentage of the Company’s Common Stock held by the holders of Insider Shares at 20% after giving effect to the Offering and the exercise, if any, of the Underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option but excluding the Representative Shares (defined below) and the purchase of any Firm Units in the Offering.

 

1.3.2.      In March 2020, the Company issued to the Representative and its designees an aggregate of 150,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Representative’s Shares”) at a price of $0.0001 per share in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. The Representative’s Shares are identical to the shares of Common Stock included in the Firm Units except the holders (i) shall not be entitled to exercise any conversion rights with respect to such Representative’s Shares and shall not be entitled to sell any such shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination or certain amendments to the Charter Documents (as defined below) as described in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) and (ii) will have no right to any liquidation distributions with respect to any portion of the Representative’s Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period. The holders of the Representative’s Shares have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any Representative’s Shares without the Company’s prior consent until the consummation of an initial Business Combination. Additionally, the holders of the Representative’s Shares will not sell during the Offering, or sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate any of the Representative’s Shares for a period of 180 days pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1) following the effective date of the Registration Statement to anyone other than (i) the Representative or an Underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer. Moreover, pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g), the Representative’s Shares 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 of the Registration Statement. The holders of the Representative’s Shares shall have registration rights as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.5 below).

 

1.3.3.      Simultaneously with the Closing Date, certain stockholders of the Company (the “Company Purchasers”) and the Representative (and/or its designees) will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (as defined in Section 2.24.2 below), 2,750,000 warrants and 500,000 warrants of the Company, respectively, or 3,003,846 warrants and 546,154 warrants, respectively, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full (collectively, the “Private Warrants”), at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Warrant in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) intended to be exempt from registration under the Act.  The terms of the Private Warrants are as described in the Prospectus. No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Private Placement. The purchase price for the Private Warrants, including those to be purchased if the full Over-Allotment Option is exercised, to be purchased by the Company Purchasers have been delivered to CST&T or counsel for the Company to hold in a separate escrow account at least 24 hours prior to the date hereof so that such funds are readily available to be delivered to the Trust Account on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Representative will not sell during the Offering, or sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate any of its Private Warrants for a period of 180 days pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1) following the effective date of the Registration Statement to anyone other than (i) the Representative or an Underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer. Additionally, pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g), the Private Warrants owned by the Representative 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 of the Registration Statement. The certificates for the Private Warrants owned by the Representative contain legends to reflect the above FINRA and contractual transfer restrictions. The holders of the Private Warrants shall have registration rights as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement. Additionally, for as long as the Private Warrants are held by the Representative or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

 

1.4.Working Capital; Trust Account Proceeds.

 

1.4.1.      Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering, approximately $650,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and Private Warrants shall be released to the Company to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.

 

1.4.2.      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 Commission a registration statement and any amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-237877), 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, 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., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a preliminary prospectus, dated May 14, 2020, for distribution by the Underwriters (the “Statutory Prospectus”). If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional Public Securities (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has 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 determines 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 agrees 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.

 

 

2.1.2.      Pursuant to the Exchange Act.  The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File Number 001-39288) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants.  The registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

2.2.         No Stop Orders, etc.  Neither the Commission nor, to the 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 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 names of the Underwriters, the number of Units being purchased by each Underwriter and the subsections titled “Underwriting Discount,” “Price Stabilization, Short Positions,” “Determination of Offering Price,” “Electronic Distribution” and “Selling Restrictions” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”

 

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 in all material respects 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 that is referred to in the Registration Statement or attached as an exhibit thereto or that 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 all material respects in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal, and state securities laws, and (c) 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 fairly summarize such regulations and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

2.4.Changes after Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1.      No Material Adverse Change.  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, 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; Statistical Data.

 

2.6.1.      Financial Statements. 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. 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.

 

 

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

 

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 Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

2.8.Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.

 

2.8.1.      Outstanding Securities.  All issued and outstanding Insider Shares 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 Insider 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 Insider Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of the Insider Shares) or exempt from such registration requirements.

  

2.8.2.      Public Securities. The Public Securities, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included within 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, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included within 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, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included within the Public Securities, has been duly and validly taken.  The Public Securities, including the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included within 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. 

 

2.8.3.      Representative’s Shares. The Representative’s Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are 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 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 Representative’s Shares has been duly and validly taken. The Representative’s 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.

 

2.8.4.      Private Warrants. The Private Warrants, including the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants, have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance, and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Subscription Agreements 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 Warrants, including the shares of Common Stock underlying the 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 Warrants, including the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants, has been duly and validly taken.  The 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.

 

 

2.8.5.      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 Agreements, the Insider Letters (as defined in Section 2.24.10 below), the Business Combination Marketing Agreement (as defined in Section 2.26 below), the Warrant Agreement, the Escrow Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.6) and the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.5) (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) 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 the Transaction Documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions therein contemplated, and the compliance by the Company with the terms 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 Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); 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.

 

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 violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.

 

2.13.Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.13.1.    Conduct of Business.  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. 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 herewith 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, the Private Warrants or the Representative’s Shares or the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, and Prospectus, except for those that have been obtained and with respect to applicable foreign, federal, and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

2.14.       D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires completed immediately prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement and provided to the Representative (the “Questionnaires”) by each of the Company’s officers, directors, 5% beneficial owners, and owners of unregistered securities acquired within the past 180 days (the “Respondents”), 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 corporation 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 corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business, or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

2.17.       No Consideration of a Business Combination. Prior to the date hereof, no Respondent has, and as of the Closing Date, the Company and such Respondents will not have: (a) had any specific Business Combination under consideration; or (b) directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business which the Company may seek to acquire (each, a “Target Business”) or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to effecting any potential Business Combination with 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 in all material respects 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.

 

2.18.2.    Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, and the Prospectus, neither the Company, nor to its knowledge, any Respondent, entered into any agreements, arrangements or understandings which would give rise to any claims or payments of a finder’s, consulting, or origination fee by the Company or any Respondent 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 Respondent that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.18.3.    Except as described herein or 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.

 

 

2.18.4.    To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no Respondent is a member of FINRA or a person associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA.

 

2.18.5.    To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no Respondent is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased in the open market).

 

2.18.6.    To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no Respondent has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA.

 

2.18.7.    No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities, Representative’s Shares or Private Warrants (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.

 

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.

 

2.18.9.    To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, 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 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 U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns that are required to be filed 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 any of the Respondents or any other person acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that: (i) 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 in any civil, criminal, or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if not done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have had a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if not continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business, or operations of the Company. The foregoing includes, without limitation, giving or agreeing 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). The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the FCPA.

 

 

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 Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations, or guidelines, issued, administered, or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit, or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority, 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.       Bank Secrecy Act; Money Laundering; Patriot Act. Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any Respondent, has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (ii) the Money Laundering Laws or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.

 

2.23.       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 and Others.

 

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, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification 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 Respondents agrees to certain matters, including but not limited to, the voting of Common Stock 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.

 

2.24.2.    Subscription Agreements. The Company Purchasers and the Representative have executed and delivered subscription agreements, the forms of which are annexed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which the Company Purchasers and the Representative have agreed, among other things, to purchase on the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Private Warrants in the Private Placement.    

 

2.24.3.    Non-Competition/Solicitation. To the Company’s knowledge, no officer or director of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect such Respondent’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or officer of the Company, as applicable.

 

2.24.4.    Loans and Advances. Robert J. Laikin has agreed to make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $150,000, as described in the Registration Statement (the “Insider Loans”). The Insider Loans do not bear any interest and are repayable by the Company on the earlier of March 1, 2021 and the consummation or abandonment of the Offering.

 

 

2.24.5.    Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and the holders of Insider Shares, Representative’s Shares and Private Warrants have entered into a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the holders of Insider Shares, Representative’s Shares and the Private Warrants will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to such securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.

 

2.24.6.    Escrow Agreement.  The Company has entered into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with CST&T and the holders of the Insider Shares substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement whereby the Insider Shares will be held in escrow by CST&T as described in the Registration Statement. To the Company’s knowledge, the Escrow Agreement is enforceable against the holders of Insider Shares.

 

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 Placement 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 Company without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

2.26.       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”).

 

2.27.       Warrant Agreement. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants to be issued as part of the Public Securities and the Private Warrants with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

2.28.       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.

 

2.29.       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.

 

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

 

2.31.       Related Party Transactions.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Respondent, on the one hand, and any customer or supplier of the Company or any Respondent, 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. There are no outstanding loans, advances, 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.

 

2.32.       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.

 

2.33.       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.

 

 

2.34.       Nasdaq Eligibility. As of the Effective Date, the Public Securities have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“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, Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, as amended.

 

2.35.       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”).

 

2.36.       Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. 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 Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the 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. As used herein, “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

 

2.37.       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).

  

2.38.       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/or 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.

 

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 to be liquidated if a Business Combination has not been consummated as required by its Charter Documents (the “Termination Date”), the Company (i) will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Stock and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not deregister the Common Stock or Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

3.2.4.      Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that it 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 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 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.

 

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, 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 and the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q 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 Respondent unless, in each case, (i) the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders fairness opinions that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and (ii) a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.

 

3.7.2.      Compensation.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company shall not pay any Respondent 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 the State of California, 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 corporation doing business in such jurisdiction.

 

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 the Termination Date or such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated and dissolved, 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 is 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 filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, 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”) 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 the Termination Date or such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST&T is acceptable to the Underwriters.

 

 

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 Firm Units, Option Units, Private Warrants, the Common Stock and Warrants included in any of the foregoing and the Representative’s Shares, 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’s counsel not to exceed $15,000) incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA; (v) fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent; (vi) the preparation and delivery of transaction lucite cubes or similar commemorative items in a style and quantity as reasonably requested by the Representative (not to exceed $3,000); (vii) 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 (viii) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise provided for in this Section 3.11. If the Offering is consummated, 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 $3,500 per individual and $32,000 in the aggregate) upon receipt of appropriate invoices. 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 the Closing Date) to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others. If the Offering is not consummated for any reason (other than a breach by the Representative of any of its obligations hereunder), then the Company shall reimburse the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred through such date, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Representative.

  

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.

 

3.14.Notice to FINRA.

 

3.14.1.    Assistance with Business Combination. For a period of ninety (90) 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 stockholder 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 has 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 stockholders has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, (without the consent of the Representative) 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 Public Securities.

 

 

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 (except in connection with a going private transaction) or until the Termination Date, the Company shall retain Marcum or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.

 

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 Placement.  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 stockholder 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, regulatory authority or securities exchange.

 

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 Common Stock for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Common Stock 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 Common Stock 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.

 

 

 

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, Common Stock and Warrants included within the Units.

 

3.26.       Private Placement Proceeds. On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited $3,250,000 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 Warrants sold on the Option Closing Date into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.00 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 Warrants and Private Warrants (as well as any other warrants that may be covered by the Warrant Agreement) 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 shall 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.

 

4.            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. Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1.      Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  The Effective Date of the Registration Statement shall be 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.

 

4.1.2.      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.

 

4.1.3.      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.

 

 

 

 

4.1.4.      Nasdaq Listing. The Public Securities shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

  4.2. Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1.     Opinion of Company Counsel.  On each of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion (along with a negative assurance letter) of Blank Rome LLP, 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.

 

4.2.2.      Reliance.  In rendering such opinion, such counsel 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 of the Company and officers 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 statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested. 

 

4.3.         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 Section 4.3.3 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:

 

4.3.1.      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;

 

4.3.2.      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;

 

4.3.3.      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 stockholders 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 stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the March 16, 2020 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 March 16, 2020 to a specified date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there were any changes in revenues, net earnings (losses), or net earnings (losses) per share of Common Stock, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the period from March 5, 2020 (inception) to March 16, 2020 included in the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such change, setting forth the amount of such change;

 

 

 

 

4.3.4.      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

 

4.3.5.      Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

  4.4. Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1.      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, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer (in their capacities as such), 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 this Section 4 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.

 

4.4.2.      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 President of the Company, certifying: (i) that the Charter Documents 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.

 

4.5.         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 Respondent before or by any court or foreign, federal, or state commission, board, or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling, or finding may have a Material Adverse Effect, 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.

 

4.6.         Delivery of Agreements and Securities. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents and all of the Insider Letters.

 

4.7.         Private Warrants. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Private Warrants have been purchased as provided for in the Subscription Agreements and the purchase price for such securities shall be deposited into the Trust Account.

 

 

 

 

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 including Nasdaq (in each case other than statements contained in the section captioned “Selling Restrictions”); or (iv) 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 the last clause 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.

 

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.  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), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter for all indemnified parties 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.

 

 

 

 

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 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 the last clause 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.

 

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.  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.

 

 

 

 

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 Common Stock or any options or other securities convertible into Common Stock or any shares of preferred stock which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote on a Business Combination or any amendment to the Company’s Charter Documents that would affect the rights granted to Public Stockholders.

 

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 $100,000,000 for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Charter Documents as described in the Registration Statement, (ii) to the Public Stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (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 Exhibits 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 between each Respondent 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.         Tender Offer, Proxy, and Other Information.  The Company shall provide the Representative with copies of all proxy or tender offer documentation and other information and all related material sent to Public Stockholders in connection with a Business Combination.

 

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 Company’s officers and directors to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, each 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 execution of a definitive agreement by the Company for a Business Combination, the Company’s liquidation or until such individual ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations the individuals might have.

  

7.7.         Target Fair Market Value. The Company agrees that, assuming it is then listed on a national securities exchange, 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) 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, with respect to the fair market value of the Target Business. 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 reasonable opinion, will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American LLC, the Nasdaq Stock Market or on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor trading market) shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the OTC Bulletin Board or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a 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 (including without limitation a calamity relating to a public health matter or natural disaster) or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Common Stock, (vii) if any of the Company’s material 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 or any other calamity (including without limitation a calamity relating to a public health matter or natural disaster) or crisis either within or outside the United States after the date hereof, or an increase in any of the foregoing, as in the Representative’s reasonable judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Common Stock or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Common Stock.

 

9.3.         Expenses.  In the event that the Offering is not consummated for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, (i) 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 and (ii) the Company shall reimburse the Representative for any costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement.

 

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, faxed, or transmitted (or if mailed, five days after such mailing):

 

If to the Representative: 
   
 EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. 
 366 Madison Avenue 
 New York, New York 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. and Jeffrey M. Gallant, Esq. 
 Email: dmiller@graubard.com; jgallant@graubard.com 

 

 

 

 

  If to the Company, to:  
     
  Novus Capital Corporation  
  8556 Oakmont Lane  
  Indianapolis, IN 46260  
  Fax No.:               
  Attn: Robert J. Laikin  
  Email: robertjlaikin@gmail.com  

 

  With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:  
     
  Blank Rome LLP  
  1271 Avenue of the Americas  
  New York, New York 10021  
  Fax No.: (212) 885-5001  
  Attn: Robert J. Mittman, Esq. and Brad L. Shiffman, Esq.  
  Email: rmittman@blankrome.com; bshiffman@blankrome.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.

 

10.6.       Governing Law, Venue, etc. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Company and the Representative hereby agrees that any action, proceeding, or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, New York County under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as applicable, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each of the Company and the Representative 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 the Company or the Representative, respectively, 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 10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company or the Representative, respectively, in any action, proceeding, or claim. Each of the Company and the Representative 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.

 

 

 

 

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, stockholders, 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]

 

 

 

 

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,
     
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
     
     
  By:  /s/Vincent Donargo
    Name:  Vincent Donargo
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Agreed to and accepted

as of the date first written above:

 

EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC., as Representative of the several Underwriters

 

 

By:  /s/Steven Levine  
  Name: Steven Levine  
  Title:   CEO  

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Novus Capital Corporation

 

10,000,000 Firm Units

 

Underwriter 

Number of Firm Units

to be Purchased

 
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.   8,000,000 
I-Bankers Securities, Inc.   1,500,000 
Ladenburg Thalmann $ Co.   500,000 
      
TOTAL   10,000,000 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

 

Form of Target Business Letter

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”), dated as of May 14, 2020 (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 $100,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account releasable to the Company for taxes, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period, or (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

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”), dated as of May 14, 2020 (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 $100,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account releasable to the Company for taxes, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event of the conversion of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period, or (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

 

EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.

366 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

May 14, 2020

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Attn: Robert J. Laikin

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This is to confirm our agreement whereby Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), has requested EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Advisor”) to assist it in connection with the Company entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or 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. 333-237877) 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 in connection with the Business Combination;

 

  (iii) Assist the Company in trying to obtain stockholder approval for the Business Combination, 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.

 

(b)               As compensation for the foregoing services, the Company will pay the Advisor a cash fee equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company in the IPO (“Transaction Fee”); provided that, in the Company’s discretion, up to 30% of the Transaction Fee may be paid to other third parties who are investment banks or financial advisory firms that did not participate in the IPO that assist the Company in identifying and consummating a Business Combination.

 

(c)               In addition to the Transaction Fee, the Company shall pay to Advisor a cash fee equal to 1.0% of the Total Consideration (as the term “Total Consideration” is defined below) in the event Advisor introduces the Company to the Target with which the Company completes a Business Combination (“Finder Fee” and together with the Transaction Fee, the “Fee”).

 

 

 

 

(d)               The Transaction Fee and any Finder Fee, if applicable, shall be payable in cash and is due and payable to the Advisor by wire transfer at the closing of the Business Combination (“Closing”) from the Trust Account (defined below); provided that the Finder Fee shall not be paid prior to the date that is 90 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement unless the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with the IPO. If a proposed Business Combination is not consummated for any reason, no Fee shall be due or payable to the Advisor hereunder.

 

(e)               For purposes of this Agreement, “Total Consideration” shall mean the total value of all cash, securities, or other property paid or transferred at the Closing (or Closings) by or to the Company, the Target and/or their respective owners or to be paid or transferred in the future to such parties with respect to such Business Combination (other than payments of interest or dividends), including, without limitation and without duplication, any value paid in respect of (i) the assets of the Company or Target, (ii) the equity capital of the Company or Target (and any securities convertible into options, warrants or other rights to acquire such equity); provided however, that no value shall be attributed to the warrants retained by or issued to the holders of warrants of the Company in exchange for the warrants issued prior to in in connection with the IPO, and (iii) the assumption, retirement or defeasance, directly or indirectly (by operation of law or otherwise), of any long-term liabilities of the Company or Target or repayment of indebtedness, including, without limitation, indebtedness secured by the assets of the Company or Target, capital leases or preferred equity obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Total Consideration shall not include any cash proceeds from the Company’s trust account established in connection with the IPO used to pay to the Company’s stockholders as a result of stockholder requests to convert their shares of common stock of the Company into a portion of the trust account in connection with the Business Combination. Further, if the Business Combination contemplates the Target or newly formed holding company being the surviving entity in the Business Combination and issuing its securities to the Company’s security holders as consideration, the Total Consideration will be deemed to be the fair market value of the Target as indicated in the Business Combination’s definitive acquisition agreement and proxy materials. If Total Consideration paid or transferred in the Business Combination includes non-cash consideration consisting of shares, other securities, options, warrants or rights for which a public trading market existed prior to the Closing, then the value of such securities shall be determined by the closing or last sales price thereof on the date that is two business days prior to the record date for the vote on the Business Combination. If all or a portion of the Total Consideration paid or transferred in the Business Combination is other than cash and securities (as described above), then the value of such other consideration shall be the fair market value thereof on the Closing as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Company and Advisor. Any amounts payable or transferable to the Company or Target, or any affiliate of the Company or Target or any stockholder of the Company or Target in connection with a non-competition agreement or any employment, consulting, licensing, supply, transfer, assignment, forbearance or other agreement (whether by separate agreement or in the Transactions documents), to the extent that such amounts payable are greater than what would customarily be paid on an arms-length basis, shall be deemed to be part of the consideration paid in the Business Combination. If all or a portion of the Total Consideration payable or transferable in connection with a Business Combination includes future payments, whether or not in escrow, then the Company shall pay Advisor any additional cash fee, determined in accordance with this Section 1, when, and if such payments are made.

 

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 up to a maximum amount of $20,000. Reimbursable expenses shall be due and payable to the Advisor by wire transfer at the Closing from the Trust Account.

 

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, 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, as a whole, 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.

 

5.                  Indemnity.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Advisor and its affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, 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 I, 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 with respect to the foregoing indemnity (each, a “Claim”); (ii) to waive any Claim it may have in the future; and (iii) to not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to any Claim.

 

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, representative or agent thereof) shall quote or refer to (i) the Advisor’s name or (ii) any advice rendered by the Advisor to the Company or 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.

 

 

 

 

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 other consultants. Except as provided in Section 1(b), 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 be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, 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. Each party irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each party hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon a party may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party being served in any action, proceeding or claim. The parties agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

 

14.                Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the 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/ Steven Levine
    Name: Steven Levine
    Title: CEO
   

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:  
   
NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION  
   
   
By: /s/ Vincent Donargo  
Name: Vincent Donargo  
Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

[Signature Page to Business Combination Marketing Agreement]

 

 

 

 

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, Novus Capital Corporation (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 their respective directors, officers, stockholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of stockholders), damages, liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred, (collectively a “Claim”), that (A) are related to or arise out of (i) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (including any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company, or (ii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person in connection with the Company's engagement of the Advisor, or (B) otherwise relate 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 gross negligence, willful misconduct or violation of law 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 gross negligence, willful misconduct or violation of law.

 

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.

 

Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the fees and expenses of such counsel. In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect against any Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be fully indemnified by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and all amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof. 

 

 

 

 

In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense.

 

The Company agrees that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not 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 stockholders 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.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

 

Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the

Delaware General Corporation Law

 

Novus Capital Corporation, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), by its Chief Executive Officer, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “Novus Capital Corporation”

 

2. The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 5, 2020.

 

3. This Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates, integrates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.

 

4. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by joint written consent of the directors and stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 141(f), 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“GCL”).

 

5. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:

 

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Novus Capital Corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Corporation”).

 

SECOND: The registered office of the Corporation is to be located at c/o Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

 

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation shall be to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the GCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation including, but not limited to, a Business Combination (as defined below).

 

FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 31,000,000 of which 30,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock of the par value of $.0001 per share and 1,000,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock of the par value of $.0001 per share.

 

A. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is expressly granted authority to issue shares of the Preferred Stock, in one or more series, and to fix for each such series such voting powers, full or limited, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) and as may be permitted by the GCL. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation.

 

  

 

 

B. Common Stock. Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power and each share of Common Stock shall have one vote.

 

FIFTH: Intentionally Omitted.

 

SIXTH: The introduction and the following provisions (A) through (J) of this Article Sixth shall apply during the period commencing upon the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation and terminating upon the consummation of any “Business Combination” and no amendment to this Article Sixth shall be effective during the “Target Business Acquisition Period” unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Corporation seeks to amend any of the foregoing provisions other than in connection with a Business Combination, the Corporation will provide holders of IPO Shares (defined below) with the opportunity to convert their IPO Shares in connection with any such vote as described in paragraph (c) below. The “Target Business Acquisition Period” shall mean the period from the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) in connection with the Corporation’s initial public offering (“IPO”) up to and including the first to occur of (a) a Business Combination or (b) the Termination Date (defined below).

 

A “Business Combination” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination involving the Corporation and one or more businesses or entities (“Target Business” or “Target Businesses”). So long as the Corporation’s securities are listed on a national securities exchange, the Target Business or Target Businesses acquired in the Business Combination must together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (defined below), excluding taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account, at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement governing the terms of the initial Business Combination. If the Corporation acquires less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a Target Business, the portion of such Target Business that the Corporation acquires is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.

 

The “fair market value” for purposes of this Article Sixth will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If the Board of Directors is unable to independently determine the fair market value of the Target Business, the Corporation will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

 

A. Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Corporation shall either (i) submit such Business Combination to its stockholders for approval (“Proxy Solicitation”) pursuant to the proxy rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or (ii) provide all holders of its Common Stock with the opportunity to sell their shares to the Corporation, effective upon consummation of such Business Combination, for cash through a tender offer (“Tender Offer”) pursuant to the tender offer rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

B. If the Corporation engages in a Proxy Solicitation in connection with any proposed Business Combination, the Corporation will consummate such Business Combination only if a majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such Business Combination.

 

 

 

 

C. In the event that a Business Combination is approved in accordance with the above paragraph (B) and is consummated by the Corporation, any holder of shares of Common Stock sold in the IPO (the “IPO Shares”) may demand that the Corporation convert such holder’s IPO Shares into cash. If so demanded, the Corporation shall, promptly after consummation of the Business Combination, convert such shares into cash at a per share price equal to the quotient determined by dividing (i) the amount then held in the Trust Account including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account net of interest that may be used by the Corporation to pay any income or other taxes payable, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, by (ii) the total number of IPO Shares then outstanding (such price being referred to as the “Conversion Price”). “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account established by the Corporation at the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO and simultaneous private placement is deposited, all as described in the Registration Statement. The Corporation may require any holder of IPO Shares who demands that the Corporation convert such IPO Shares into cash to either tender such holder’s certificates to the Corporation’s transfer agent at any time prior to the vote taken at the stockholder meeting relating to such Business Combination or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System at any time prior to the vote taken at the stockholder meeting relating to such Business Combination, with the exact timing of the delivery of the IPO Shares to be set forth in the proxy materials relating to such Business Combination. 

 

D. If the Corporation engages in a Tender Offer, the Corporation shall file tender offer documents with the Commission which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination as is required under the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act and that would have been included in any proxy statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Proxy Solicitation, even if such information is not required under the tender offer rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. The per-share price at which the Corporation will repurchase the IPO Shares in any such Tender Offer shall be equal to the Conversion Price. The Corporation shall not purchase any shares of Common Stock other than IPO Shares in any such Tender Offer.

 

E. The Corporation will not consummate any Business Combination unless it has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of such Business Combination.

 

F. In the event that the Corporation does not consummate a Business Combination by 18 months after the consummation of the IPO (the “Termination Date”), the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the IPO Shares for cash for a redemption price per share equal to the amount then held in the Trust Account, including the interest earned thereon, less any interest for any income or other taxes payable, divided by the total number of IPO Shares then outstanding (which redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to approval of the Corporation’s then stockholders and subject to the requirements of the GCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of the GCL finding the dissolution of the Corporation advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of the GCL, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above) to the Corporation’s obligations under the GCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

G. A holder of IPO Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Fund only in the event (i) the holder demands conversion of such holder’s shares in accordance with paragraph C above in connection with any Proxy Solicitation, (ii) he sells his shares to the Corporation in accordance with paragraph D above in connection with any Tender Offer, (iii) that the Corporation has not consummated a Business Combination by the Termination Date or (iv) the Corporation seeks to amend the provisions of this Article Sixth prior to the consummation of a Business Combination and the holder demands conversion of such holder’s shares in connection with such amendment. In no other circumstances shall a holder of IPO Shares have any right or interest of any kind in or to the Trust Fund.

 

H. Unless and until the Corporation has consummated its initial Business Combination as permitted under this Article Sixth, the Corporation may not consummate any other business combination transaction, whether by merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination, transaction or otherwise. The Corporation shall not consummate a Business Combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of the Corporation’s officers, directors or sponsors unless the Corporation has obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such a Business Combination is fair to the Corporation (or its stockholders) from a financial point of view and a majority of the Corporation’s disinterested independent directors approve such Business Combination.

 

I. Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Board of Directors may not issue (i) any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into Common Stock; or (ii) any securities which participate in or are otherwise entitled in any manner to any of the proceeds in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on any matter.

 

  

 

 

J. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class A, Class B and Class C. The number of directors in each class shall be fixed exclusively by the Board of Directors and shall be as nearly equal as possible. The directors in office at the time of filing of this Certificate of Incorporation shall appoint from the existing directors one Class A director, one Class B director and two Class C directors. The directors in Class A shall be elected for a term expiring at the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the directors in Class B shall be elected for a term expiring at the second Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the directors in Class C shall be elected for a term expiring at the third Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Commencing at the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and at each annual meeting thereafter, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Except as the GCL may otherwise require, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or the removal of one or more directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors for cause, may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Corporation’s Bylaws), or by the sole remaining director. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

SEVENTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

 

A. Election of directors need not be by ballot unless the by-laws of the Corporation so provide.

 

B. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter and repeal the by-laws of the Corporation, subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation to alter or repeal any by-law whether adopted by them or otherwise.

 

C. The directors in their discretion may submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act or contract, and any contract or act that shall be approved or be ratified by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation which is represented in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat (provided that a lawful quorum of stockholders be there represented in person or by proxy), unless a higher vote is required by applicable law, shall be as valid and binding upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as though it had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation, whether or not the contract or act would otherwise be open to legal attack because of directors’ interests, or for any other reason.

 

D. In addition to the powers and authorities hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation; subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the statutes of the State of Delaware, of this Certificate of Incorporation, and to any by-laws from time to time made by the stockholders; provided, however, that no by-law so made shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such by-law had not been made.

 

EIGHTH: A. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the GCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the GCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the GCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this paragraph A by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation with respect to events occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

  

 

 

B. The Corporation, to the full extent permitted by Section 145 of the GCL, as amended from time to time, shall indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify pursuant thereto. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which such officer or director may be entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized hereby.

 

NINTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.

 

TENTH: A. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the GCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall not be the sole and exclusive forum for any of the following actions: (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section A will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

B. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section A immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce paragraph A immediately above (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

  

 

 

C. If any provision or provisions of this Article TENTH shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article TENTH (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article TENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TENTH.

 

ELEVENTH: The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation or in the future. In addition to the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate opportunity with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Larry Paulson, its Chief Executive Officer, as of the 15th day of May, 2020.

 

 

  /s/ Larry Paulson
  Larry Paulson
  Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Charter]

 

  

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

This agreement is made as of May 19, 2020 between Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, with offices at 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 (“Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 1 State Street, New York, New York 10004 (“Warrant Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (“Public Offering”) of up to 11,500,000 units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and one warrant, where each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein, and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to 11,500,000 warrants (the “Public Warrants”) to the public investors in connection with the Public Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-237877 (“Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of, among other securities, the Public Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received binding commitments (“Subscription Agreements”) from its initial stockholders and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“EarlyBirdCapital”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,550,000 warrants (the “Private Warrants”) upon consummation of the Public Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company may issue up to an additional 1,500,000 warrants (“Working Capital Warrants”) in satisfaction of certain working capital loans that may be made by the Company’s officers, directors, stockholders and affiliates; and

 

WHEREAS, following consummation of the Public Offering, the Company may issue additional warrants (“Post IPO Warrants” and together with the Public Warrants, Private Warrants, and Working Capital Warrants, the “Warrants”) in connection with, or following the consummation by the Company of, a Business Combination (defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption, and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

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

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding, and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2. Warrants.

 

2.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 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. Uncertificated Warrants. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Warrant, or portion thereof, may be issued as part of, and be represented by, a Unit, and any Warrant may be issued in uncertificated or book-entry form through the Warrant Agent and/or the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) or other book-entry depositary system, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or by an authorized committee thereof. Any Warrant so issued shall have the same terms, force and effect as a certificated Warrant that has been duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.3. Effect of Countersignature. Except with respect to uncertificated Warrants as described above, 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.

 

2.4. Registration.

 

2.4.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“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.

 

2.4.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is then registered in the Warrant Register (“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.

 

2.5. Detachability of Warrants. The securities comprising the Units will not be separately transferable until the 90th day following the date of the prospectus or, if such 90th day is not on a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier with the consent of EarlyBirdCapital (the “Representative”), but in no event will the Representative allow separate trading of the securities comprising the Units until (i) the Company has filed 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 underwriters’ over-allotment option in the Public Offering, if the over-allotment option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company has issued a press release and has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin (the “Detachment Date”).

 

2.6. Private Warrant and Working Capital Warrant Attributes. The Private Warrants and Working Capital Warrants will be issued in the same form as the Public Warrants but they (i) will not be redeemable by the Company and (ii) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis at the holder’s option, in either case as long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees (as prescribed in Section 5.6 hereof). Once a Private Warrant or Working Capital Warrant is transferred to a holder other than an affiliate or permitted transferee, it shall be treated as a Public Warrant hereunder for all purposes.

 

2.7.  Post IPO Warrants. The Post IPO Warrants, when and if issued, shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants except as may be agreed upon by the Company.

 

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants

 

3.1. Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent (except with respect to uncertificated Warrants), entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement refers to the price per share at which the shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days; provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days’ prior written notice of such reduction to registered holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.

 

 

 

 

3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period commencing on the later of 30 days after the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”) (as described more fully in the Registration Statement) or 12 months from the closing of the Public Offering, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of (i) five years from the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) the Redemption Date as provided in Section 6.2 of this Agreement and (iii) the liquidation of the Company (“Expiration Date”). The period of time from the date the Warrants will first become exercisable until the expiration of the Warrants shall hereafter be referred to as the “Exercise Period.” Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6 hereunder), as applicable, 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 at least twenty (20) days’ prior written notice of any such extension to registered holders and, provided further that any such extension shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.

 

3.3. Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the registered holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full the Warrant Price for each share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, as follows:

 

(a) by good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or wire transfer; or

 

(b) in the event of redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s management has elected to force all holders of Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value” (defined below) by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(b), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Common Stock for the five (5) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of the Warrants pursuant to Section 6 hereof; or

 

(c) with respect to any Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants, so long as such Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, by surrendering such Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the “Fair Market Value” by (y) the Fair Market Value; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless the Fair Market Value is equal to or higher than the exercise price. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the five (5) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise; or

 

(d) in the event the registration statement required by Section 7.4 hereof is not effective and current within ninety (90) days after the closing of a Business Combination, by surrendering such Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the “Fair Market Value” by (y) the Fair Market Value; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless the Fair Market Value is equal to or higher than the exercise price. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(d), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the five (5) trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

 

 

 

3.3.2. Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. 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, or book entry position, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new countersigned Warrant, or book entry position, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. No Warrant shall be exercisable for cash and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Warrants. In the event that the condition in the immediately preceding sentence is not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant for cash and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the shares of Common Stock underlying such Unit. 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 shares of Common Stock 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 book entry position or certificate for shares of Common Stock 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, or book entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book entry system 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 shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the 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 Warrant Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

 

 

 

4. Adjustments.

 

4.1. Stock Dividends; Split Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split up of shares of Common Stock, or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

4.3 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the shares of Common Stock or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible (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 in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend divided by all outstanding shares of the Company at such time (whether or not any shareholders waived their right to receive such dividend); provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed an Extraordinary Dividend for purposes of this provision: (a) any adjustment described in subsection 4.1 above, (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 per share (taking into account all of the outstanding shares of the Company at such time (whether or not any shareholders waived their right to receive such dividend) and as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50, (c) any payment to satisfy the conversion rights of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination or certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as described in the Registration Statement) or (d) any payment in connection with the Company’s liquidation and the distribution of its assets upon its failure to consummate a Business Combination. Solely for purposes of illustration, if the Company, at a time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a cash dividend of $0.35 and previously paid an aggregate of $0.40 of cash dividends and cash distributions on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such $0.35 dividend, then the Warrant Price will be decreased, effectively immediately after the effective date of such $0.35 dividend, by $0.25 (the absolute value of the difference between $0.75 (the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and cash distributions paid or made in such 365-day period, including such $0.35 dividend) and $0.50 (the greater of (x) $0.50 and (y) the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and cash distributions paid or made in such 365-day period prior to such $0.35 dividend)). Furthermore, solely for the purposes of illustration, if following the closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination, there were total shares outstanding of 100,000,000 and the Company paid a $1.00 dividend to 17,500,000 of such shares (with the remaining 82,500,000 shares waiving their right to receive such dividend), then no adjustment to the Warrant Price would occur as a $17.5 million dividend payment divided by 100,000,000 shares equals $0.175 per share which is less than $0.50 per share.

 

4.4 Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in Sections 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 shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

 

 

 

4.5. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change covered by Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof or that solely affects the par value of the Common Stock), 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 Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the 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 shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the Warrant holder would have received if such Warrant holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event. If any reclassification also results in a change in the Common Stock covered by Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 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. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

4.6. Issuance in connection with a Business Combination. If, in connection with a Business Combination, the Company (a) issues additional shares of Common Stock or equity-linked securities at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, in good faith, and in the case of any such issuance to Novus Capital Corporation the initial stockholders, or their affiliates, without taking into account any founders’ shares held by them prior to such issuance), (b) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Business Combination on the date of the consummation of such Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (c) the Fair Market Value (as defined below) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value or (ii) the price at which the Company issues the Common Stock or equity-linked securities. Solely for purposes of this Section 4.6, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average reported trading price of the Common Stock for the twenty (20) trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

4.7 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, 4.5, or 4.6, 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.

 

4.8. No Fractional Warrants or Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this 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 to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.

 

4.9. 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. However, 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.

 

 

 

 

4.10 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 they determine 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, in the case of certificated Warrants, properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, either in certificated form or in book entry position, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants, or book entry positions, 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 or book-entry position 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 and Working Capital Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not register any transfer of Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants until after the consummation by the Company of an initial Business Combination, except for transfers (i) among the initial stockholders or to the initial stockholders’ or the Company’s officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to a holder’s stockholders or members upon the holder’s liquidation, in each case if the holder is an entity, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the holder or a member of the holder’s immediate family, in each case for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (vii) in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Warrants were originally purchased, (viii) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to its consummation of an initial Business Combination or (ix) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, in each case (except for clauses (vi), (viii) or (ix) or with the Company’s prior written consent) 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 transfer restrictions contained in this section and any other applicable agreement the transferor is bound by.

 

5.7. Transfers prior to Detachment. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.7 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on or after the Detachment Date.

 

 

 

 

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 during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon the notice referred to in Section 6.2, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant (“Redemption Price”), provided that the last sales price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $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 commencing after the Warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day redemption or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b); provided, however, that if and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise such redemption right if the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.

 

6.2. Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants that are subject to redemption, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date 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 Public 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 Public 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 shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.

 

6.4 Exclusion of Certain Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in this Section 6 shall not apply to (i) the Private Warrants and Working Capital Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants continue to be held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees or (ii) Post IPO Warrants if such warrants provide that they are non-redeemable by the Company. However, with respect to the Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants, once such Private Warrants or Working Capital Warrants are transferred (other than to permitted transferees under Section 5.6), the Company may redeem the Private Warrants and Working Capital Warrants in the same manner as the Public Warrants.

 

7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

7.1. No Rights as Stockholder. A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

7.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in 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 Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

7.4. Registration of Shares of Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and it shall use its best efforts to take such action as is necessary to register or qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company and in those states where holders of Warrants then reside, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to the extent an exemption is not available. 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. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the 90th day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 91st day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the 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 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 shares of Common Stock 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 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 7.4. The provisions of this Section 7.4 may not be modified, amended, or deleted without the prior written consent of EarlyBirdCapital.

 

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 shares of Common Stock 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.

 

8.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

 

8.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of 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 shares of Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

 

 

 

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

 

8.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

8.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and 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 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 Directors of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own fraud, 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 fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.

 

8.4.3. Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); 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 shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock 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 monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.

 

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

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

 

9.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Attn: Robert J. Laikin

 

 

 

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Compliance Department

 

with a copy in each case to:

 

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Robert J. Mittman, Esq.

 

and

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

 

and

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Steven Levine

 

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 Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. 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.

 

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 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof, EarlyBirdCapital, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. EarlyBirdCapital shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 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 EarlyBirdCapital with respect to the Sections 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 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 (i) a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants and Private Warrants if such modification or amendment is being undertaken prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) a majority of the then outstanding Warrants if such modification or amendment is being undertaken after the consummation of a Business Combination. 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 EarlyBirdCapital.

 

9.9 Trust Account Waiver. The Warrant Agent acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the trust account established by the Company in connection with the Public Offering (as more fully described in the Registration Statement) (“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 Warrant Agent has a claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent will pursue such claim solely against the Company and not against the property held in the Trust Account.

 

9.10 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Vincent Donargo
    Name: Vincent Donargo
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Henry Farrell
    Name: Henry Farrell
    Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made as of May 19, 2020 by and between Novus Capital Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-237877 (“Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering of securities (“IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (“Effective Date”) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement); and

 

WHEREAS, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Representative”) is acting as the representative of the several underwriters in the IPO; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, $100,000,000 ($115,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the proceeds from the IPO and a simultaneous private placement of units will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); 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 the Trust Account established by the Trustee initially at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) in the United States, maintained by Trustee, and at a brokerage institution selected by the Company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(b) Manage, supervise, and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), having a maturity of 180 days or less, and/or in any open ended investment company registered under the Investment Company Act that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraph (d) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as, and when instructed by the Company to do so;

 

(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of and amounts in the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, signed on behalf of the Company and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, jointly acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, 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 within the period of time (the “Last Date”) provided in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), 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 Stockholders as of the Last Date; and

 

(j) Upon receipt of a letter (an “Amendment Notification Letter”) in the form of Exhibit C, signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer, distribute to Public Stockholders who exercised their conversion rights in connection with an amendment to Article Sixth of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (an “Amendment”) an amount equal to the pro rata share of the Property relating to the Common Stock for which such Public Stockholders have exercised conversion rights in connection with such Amendment.

 

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 D, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligation owed by the Company.

 

(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 Sections 1(i) or 1(j) hereof.

  

3. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by any one of the Company’s authorized officers. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i)1(j), 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 Section 5 of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit, or other proceeding brought against the Trustee which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim, provided, that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

 

 

 

(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)  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) solely in connection with the consummation of a business combination (a “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;

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders 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 stockholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

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

 

(f) If the Company has an Amendment approved by its stockholders, provide the Trustee with an Amendment Notification Letter in the form of Exhibit C providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Stockholders who exercise their conversion rights in connection with such Amendment; and

 

(g) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter, Amendment Notification Letter, and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance.

 

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 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);

 

(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

 

(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

 

(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion, or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee), statement, instrument, report, or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Trustee, in good faith, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination, or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

 

 

 

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

 

(h) File local, state, and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account or deliver payee statements to 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; or

 

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

 

5. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 3(b) or Section 3(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

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 (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account 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) and Section 5.

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to funds being transferred to or from the Trust Account 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 supplied to it or funds transferred based on such information.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. 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. As to any claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury.

 

 

 

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i) and 1(j) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty five percent (65%) of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its shares of Common Stock in connection with a vote sought to amend this Agreement), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of the Representative. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

(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, by email or by facsimile transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com

Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Attn: Robert J. Laikin

E-mail: robertjlaikin@gmail.com

 

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

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Steven Levine

E-mail: slevine@ebccap.com

 

and

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Robert J. Mittman, Esq.

E-mail: rmittman@blankrome.com

 

and

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

E-mail: dmiller@graubard.com

 

 

 

 

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

 

(g) Each of the Trustee and the Company hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder.

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

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/ Francis Wolf
    Name:  Francis Wolf    
    Title:  Vice President
       
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
       
  By:  /s/ Vincent Donargo
    Name:  Vincent Donargo
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item   Time and method of payment   Amount  
Initial acceptance fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer   $      
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   $     
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2   Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 2   $     
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j)   Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j)      Prevailing rates  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

& Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

 

Re: Trust Account No. [________] - Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of May 19, 2020 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [__________________] to consummate a business combination (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least 72 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account investments and to transfer the proceeds to the Trust Account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust 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] by the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies the vote of the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel's letter and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the you 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,
   
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
       
  By:  
    Name:                             
    Title:  

 

 

  

AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY

 

EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.  
       
By:    
  Name:                                        
  Title:    

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account No. [__________] - Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of May 19, 2020 (“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 Certificate of Incorporation, 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 the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Operating Account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected [____________, 20__] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that while the funds are on deposit in the Trust Operating Account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends. 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 Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
       
  By:   
    Name:                 
    Title:  

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account No. [________] – Amendment Notification Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Reference is made to the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of May 19, 2020 (“Trust Agreement”). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $____ of the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.. to await distribution to the Public Stockholders that have requested conversion of their shares in connection with such Amendment. The remaining funds shall be reinvested by you as previously instructed.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
       
  By:  
    Name:                 
    Title:  

  

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account No. [_____________]

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Novus Capital Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of May 19, 2020 (“Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company [$_______] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. The Company needs such funds to pay for its income or other 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]

 

  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
       
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:                   

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of May 19, 2020 (“Agreement”), by and among NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), the stockholders of the Company listed on Exhibit A hereto (the “Founders”) and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation (“Escrow Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed for the purpose of completing a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination (a “Business Combination”) with one or more businesses or entities.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated May 14, 2020 (“Underwriting Agreement”), with EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC. (the “Representative”) acting as representative of the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 10,000,000 units (“Units”) of the Company, plus an additional 1,500,000 Units if the Representative exercises the over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and one warrant (“Warrant”), each Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock, all as more fully described in the Company’s final Prospectus, dated May 14, 2020 (“Prospectus”) comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-237877) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Registration Statement”), declared effective on May 14, 2020 (“Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Founders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit their shares of Common Stock of the Company in escrow as hereinafter provided.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Founders desire that the Escrow Agent accept the shares of Common Stock, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.

 

IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Appointment of Escrow Agent. The Company and the Founders 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 Shares. On or before the Effective Date, the Founders’ respective shares of Common Stock set forth on Exhibit A hereto shall be deposited in escrow, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Founders acknowledge that the shares deposited in escrow will be legended to reflect the deposit of such shares under this Agreement.

 

3. Disbursement of the Escrow Shares.

 

3.1 If the over-allotment option to purchase all or a portion of the additional 1,500,000 Units of the Company is not exercised in full within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Founders agree that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of shares of Common Stock determined by multiplying 375,000 by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,500,000 minus the number of shares of Common Stock included in the Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of the over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,500,000. The Company shall promptly provide notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with the exercise thereof.

 

3.2 Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Escrow Agent shall hold the shares remaining after any cancellation required pursuant to Section 3.1 above (such remaining shares to be referred to herein as the “Escrow Shares”) until (i) with respect to 50% of the Escrow Shares, the earlier of (x) one year after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination and (y) the date on which the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the consummation of the Business Combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares, one year after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination (such period of time during which the Escrow Shares are held in escrow, the “Escrow Period”). The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of an initial Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Founder’s Escrow Shares to the applicable Founder; provided, however, that if, after the consummation of an initial Business Combination and during the Escrow Period, the Company (or the surviving entity) consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the stockholders of such entity having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Founders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.2.

 

 

 

3.3 If the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company’s 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) is being liquidated, then the Escrow Agent shall deliver the certificates representing the Escrow Shares to the Founders promptly after the public stockholders are paid the liquidating distributions and shall have no further duties hereunder.

 

4. Rights of Founders in Escrow Shares.

 

4.1 Voting Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letters described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Founders shall retain all of their rights as stockholders of the Company as long as any shares are held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.

 

4.2 Dividends and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares. For as long as any shares are held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Founders, but all dividends payable in stock or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon, if any.

 

4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. During the Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) to the Founders and the Company’s officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to a Founder’s stockholders, partners or members upon such Founder’s liquidation, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the Founders’ immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Founder or a member of a Founder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of a Founder, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order binding on a Founder, (vi) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or (vii) by private sales of the Escrow Shares made at or prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased; provided, however, that except for clause (vi) or with the Company’s prior written consent, such permitted transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter signed by the Founder transferring the shares.

 

4.4 Insider Letters. The Founders have executed letter agreements with the Company and the Representative, dated as of the date hereto, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Insider Letter”), respecting the rights and obligations of such Founders 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 in good faith to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

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5.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 5.8 below, the Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence, fraud 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. Subject to Section 5.8 below, 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 reasonable expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.

 

5.4 Further Assurances. From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Founders 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 the Escrow Shares over to a successor escrow agent appointed by the Company and approved by the Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. 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 in the State of New York.

 

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 all of the other parties hereto; provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon the appointment of a successor escrow agent selected by the Company and approved by the Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

5.7 Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence, fraud or 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 and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

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6. Miscellaneous.

 

6.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. 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. As to any claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury.

 

6.2 Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledges that the Representative is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

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 only be changed, amended, or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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, by email or by facsimile transmission:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, Indiana 46260

Email: robertjlaikin@gmail.com

 

If to a Founder, to his/her/its address set forth in Exhibit A.

 

and if to the Escrow Agent, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Chairman

Fax No.:

Email:

 

A copy of any notice sent hereunder shall be sent to:

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Ave 8th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Steven Levine

Fax No.:

Email: slevine@ebccap.com

 

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with a copy to:

 

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

Attn: Robert J. Mittman, Esq.

Fax No: (917) 332.3800

Email: Rmittman@blankrome.com

 

and:

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

Fax No.: (212) 818-8881

Email: dmiller@graubard.com

 

 

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 Trust Account. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation of the Trust Account in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

6.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original and may be delivered by facsimile transmission and together shall constitute one instrument.

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

5

 

 

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

 

  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Vincent Donargo
  Name: Vincent Donargo
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  INITIAL STOCKHOLDERS:
   
 

ROBERT J. LAIKIN 

   
  /s/ Robert J. Laikin
  Robert J. Laikin
 
   
 

ZAK LAIKIN

   
  /s/ Zak Laikin
  Zak Laikin
 
 

 

Larry Gretchen Paulson Trust

   
  By: /s/ Larry Paulson
  Name: Larry Paulson
  Title: Trustee                 

 

  NEW FRONTIER LLC
   
  By: /s/ Jeffrey Foster
  Name: Jeffrey Foster
  Title: Manager
   
  HIRSCH FAMILY LIVING TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Dan Hirsch
  Name: Dan Hirsch
  Title: Trustee
   
  MONS INVESTMENT LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Hersch Klaff
  Name: Hersch Klaff
  Title: Authorized Person

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

  CLIFF HOLDINGS LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Ryan Levy
  Name: Ryan Levy
  Title: Manager
   

 

 

VINCE DONARGO

   
  /s/ Vince Donargo
  Vince Donargo
 
     
 

LOUIS CONFORTI

 

   /s/ Louis Conforti
  Louis Conforti
 

 

  MADNANI LIVING TRUST
   
  By:  /s/ Sean Madnani
  Name: Sean Madnani
  Title: Trustee
   
 

KEN BEYER

 

  /s/ Ken Beyer
  Ken Beyer
 
 

ALEX PASKOFF

 

  /s/ Alex Paskoff
  Alex Paskoff
 

 

  MARIA MARTA R BIRGE REV TR DEC
   
  By: /s/ Tag Birge 
  Name: Tag Birge
  Title: Trustee
   
  KARIN MICHELLE HELD TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Andrew Held 
  Name: Andrew Held
  Title:  Trustee

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

  FINOVUS LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Steven Fivel
  Name: Steven Fivel
  Title: Member
   
  ANNE T. DILLON
 

 

/s/Anne Dillon

  Anne Dillon
 
     

 

 

BRIAN PAHUD

 

  /s/ Brian Pahud
  Brian Pahud
 
 

JOEL HOFFMAN

 

/s/ Joel Hoffman

  Joel Hoffman
 
   
  BEA HOLDINGS II, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Bradley A. Bostic
  Name: Bradley A. Bostic
  Title: Managing Director
     
  SEDD BOND HOLDINGS, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ David Eskenazi
  Name: David Eskenazi
  Title: Managing Member
 

 

ETHAN W. MEYERS TRUST

   
  By:  /s/ Sidney Eskenazi
  Name: Sidney Eskenazi
  Title: Trustee
   

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

  SAMANTHA H MEYERS TRUST
   
  By:  /s/ Sidney Eskenazi
  Name: Sidney Eskenazi
  Title: Trustee
     
  HEATHER GOODMAN
 

 

/s/ Heather Goodman

  Heather Goodman
 
 

 

ALEX LAIKIN

 

 

/s/ Alex Laikin

  Alex Laikin
 

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

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

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Henry Farrell
  Name: Henry Farrell
  Title: Vice President                

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Omitted] 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 19th day of May 2020, by and among Novus Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned parties listed under Investors on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Business Combination” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of 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.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

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

 

Form S-3” is defined in Section 2.3.

 

Founder Shares” means the 2,875,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company issued to the Investors prior to the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

  

Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.

 

Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

 

 

Private Warrants” means the Warrants certain of the Investors are privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Pro Rata” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Register,” “Registered” and “Registration” mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Founder Shares, (ii) the Representative Shares, (iii) the Private Warrants (and underlying shares of Common Stock) and (iv) the Working Capital Warrants (and underlying securities), if any. Registrable Securities include any warrants, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Founder Shares, Representative Shares, Private Units (and underlying securities) and Working Capital Units (and underlying securities). 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 under the Securities Act 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).

 

Release Date” means the date on which the Founder Shares are disbursed from escrow pursuant to Section 3 of that certain Stock Escrow Agreement dated as of May 19, 2020 by and among the holders of Founder Shares and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Representative” means EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

Representative Shares” means the 150,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company issued to the Representative and its designees prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

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 share of Common Stock and one-half of one Warrant.

 

Warrants” means the warrants of the Company with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other stockholders 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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. 

 

2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.

 

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 shares of Common Stock which the Company desires to sell, taken together with shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders 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) the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock 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; and

 

 

 

b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock 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.

 

 

 

3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

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

 

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

 

3.1.2 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus), and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.

 

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

 

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

 

3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction. 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any underwritten offering.

 

 

 

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

 

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) the Representative may not exercise its rights under Section 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) the Representative 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 whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action and including any and all legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise; provided, however, that the 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. 

 

 

 

4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.4.3 hereof, 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 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 to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.

 

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written advice 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.

 

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) with respect to any action shall be entitled to contribution in such action 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, has any right to require the Company to register any shares of the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Company’s capital stock in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

To the Company:

 

Novus Capital Corporation

8556 Oakmont Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Attn: Robert J. Laikin

 

with a copy to:

 

Blank Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York NY 10020
Attn: Robert J. Mittman, Esq.

 

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

 

6.4 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.

 

6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

6.12 Waiver of Trial by JuryEACH 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]

 

 

 

 

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:
   
  NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Vincent Donargo
  Name: Vincent Donargo
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  INVESTORS:
   
  ROBERT J. LAIKIN
   
  /s/ Robert J. Laikin
  Robert J. Laikin
   
  ZAK LAIKIN
   
  /s/ Zak Laikin
  Zak Laikin
   
  LARRY M PAULSON AND GRETCHEN V
  PAULSON, Trustees of the Larry M and Gretchen V
  Paulson Family Trust dated September 4, 2019 and
  any amendments thereto
   
  By: /s/ Larry Paulson
  Name: Larry Paulson
  Title: Trustee
   
  NEW FRONTIER LLC
   
  By: /s/ Jeffrey Foster
  Name: Jeffrey Foster
  Title: Manager
   
  HIRSCH FAMILY LIVING TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Dan Hirsch
  Name: Dan Hirsch
  Title: Trustee

 

 

 

 

   
  MONS INVESTMENT LLC
   
  By: /s/ Hersch Klaff
  Name: Hersch Klaff
  Title: Authorized Person
   
  CLIFF HOLDINGS, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Ryan Levy
  Name: Ryan Levy
  Title: Manager
   
  VINCE DONARGO
   
  /s/ Vince Donargo
  Vince Donargo
   
  LOUIS CONFORTI
   
  /s/ Louis Conforti
  Louis Conforti
   
  MADNANI LIVING TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Sean Madnani
  Name: Sean Madnani
  Title: Trustee
   
  KEN BEYER
   
  /s/ Ken Beyer
  Ken Beyer
   
  ALEX PASKOFF
   
  /s/ Alex Paskoff
  Alex Paskoff

 

 

 

 

   
  MARIA MARTA R BIRGE REV TR DEC
   
  By: /s/ Tag Birge
  Name: Tag Birge
  Title: Trustee
   
  KARIN MICHELLE HELD TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Andrew Held
  Name: Andrew Held
  Title: Trustee
   
  FINOVUS LLC
   
  By: /s/ Steven Fivel
  Name: Steven Fivel
  Title: Member
   
  ANNE T. DILLON
   
  /s/ Anne Dillon
  Anne Dillon
   
  BRIAN PAHUD
   
  /s/ Brian Pahud
  Brian Pahud
   
  JOEL HOFFMAN
   
  /s/ Joel Hoffman
  Joel Hoffman
   
  BEA HOLDINGS II, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Bradley A. Bostic
  Name: Bradley A. Bostic
  Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

   
  SEDD BOND HOLDINGS, LLC
   
  By: /s/ David Eskenazi
  Name: David Eskenazi
  Title: Managing Member
   
  ETHAN W. MEYERS TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Sidney Eskenazi
  Name: Sidney Eskenazi
  Title: Trustee
   
  SAMANTHA H. MEYERS TRUST
   
  By: /s/ Sidney Eskenazi
  Name: Sidney Eskenazi
  Title: Trustee
   
  HEATHER GOODMAN
   
  /s/ Heather Goodman
  Heather Goodman
   
  ALEXANDER LAIKIN
   
  /s/ Alexander Laikin
  Alexander Laikin

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

    EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
     
  By:  /s/ Steven Levine
    Name: Steven Levine
    Title: CEO

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Omitted] 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Novus Capital Corporation Announces Pricing of $100 Million Initial Public Offering

 

New York, NY – (May 14, 2020) – Novus Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: NOVSU) (the “Company”) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will commence trading on May 15, 2020 on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NOVSU.”

 

Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one redeemable warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the common stock and warrants are expected to be traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “NOVS and “NOVSW”, respectively.

 

The underwriters have been granted a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

The offering is expected to close on or about May 19, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering. I-Bankers Securities, Inc. is acting as co-manager.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2020. 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, NY 10017, Attn: Syndicate Department, 212-661-0200. 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 Novus Capital Corporation

 

Novus Capital Corporation is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company is led by Robert J. Laikin and Larry Paulson, who have significant hands-on experience helping high-tech companies optimize their existing and new growth initiatives by exploiting insights from rich data assets and intellectual property that already exist within most high-tech companies. The Company intends to focus its efforts on evaluating business combination targets opportunities in the smart technology innovations market. Specifically, the Company intends to target companies that are at the forefront of high technology and are enabling the future evolution of 5G communication, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, machine learning, hardware and software distribution and value-added customized logistics services. The Company is an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.

 

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 with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the proceeds thereof, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in the risk factors section of the prospectus used in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. 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, except as required by law.

 

Media Contact:

Robert J. Laikin

robertjlaikin@gmail.com

317-590-6959