Exhibit 4.4
WARRANT AGREEMENT
ThisWARRANT AGREEMENT(this “Agreement”) is made as of January 24, 2008, by and between Atlas Acquisition Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, with offices at c/o Hauslein & Company, Inc., 11450 SE Dixie Highway, Suite 105, Hobe Sound, Florida 33455 (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York, New York 10038 (the “Warrant Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company may engage in an initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”) of units (“Units”), each consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) and one warrant (a “Warrant”), each individual Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock for $7.00; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering of Units, the Company may issue and deliver up to 20,000,000 underlying Warrants (or 23,000,000 underlying Warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised) to the public investors (“Public Warrants”), each of such Public Warrants evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock for $7.00, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, if the Company determines to engage in an Initial Public Offering, the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”) for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”), of, among other securities, the Units, the Common Stock, and the Public Warrants; and
WHEREAS, if the Company engages in and consummates an Initial Public Offering, the Company will contemporaneously engage in a private offering of Warrants to James N. Hauslein, Gaurav V. Burman, Sir Peter Burt, Michael T. Biddulph, Michael W. Burt, and Promethean plc (each an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”) and, in connection therewith, will enter into an agreement to sell an aggregate of 5,800,000 additional Warrants for $1.00 per Warrant, each evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock for $7.00, subject to adjustment as described herein (the “Insiders’ Warrants” or the “Private Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, the Public Warrants and the Private Warrants are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Warrants”; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption, exercise, and cancellation 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.
2.1Form of Warrant. Each (i) Public Warrant shall be issued in registered form only in substantially the form ofExhibit A hereto, and (ii) Private Warrant shall be issued in registered form only in substantially the form ofExhibit B hereto, in each case, 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 (the “Board”) or Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Company. 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. All of the Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more book-entry certificates (each a “Book Entry Warrant Certificate”).
2.2Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3Registration.
2.3.1Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. All of the Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more Book-Entry Warrant Certificates deposited with the Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”) and registered in the name of a nominee of the Depository. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depository or its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or (ii) institutions that have accounts with the Depository (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).
If the Depository subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that (i) a beneficial owner (as defined below) of a Warrant does not wish to hold the Warrant in book-entry form, or (ii) the Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depository to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depository definitive certificates representing the Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) in physical form evidencing such Warrants. Such definitive Warrant Certificates shall be in the form annexed hereto asExhibit A orExhibit B, as applicable, with appropriate insertions, modifications, and omissions, as provided above.
2.3.2Beneficial Owner; Registered Holder. The term “beneficial owner” shall mean, on or after the Detachment Date (as defined below), any person in whose name ownership of a beneficial interest in the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate is recorded in the records maintained by the Depository or its nominee, and prior to the Detachment Date, the person in whose name the Unit of which such Warrant or part thereof was originally part of, as registered upon the register relating to such Units. Prior to due presentment for registration or transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant Register (“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.
2.4Detachability of Warrants. The securities comprising the Units will not be separately transferable until the 90th day (or such earlier number of days as the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering may permit) after the date of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (or as soon as practicable thereafter) (the “Detachment Date”), subject to the Company having 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 Initial Public Offering including the proceeds received by the
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Company from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin.
2.5Public Warrants and Private Warrants. The Private Warrants shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants, except that (A) the Public Warrants may be redeemed (i) in whole and not in part, (ii) at a price of $.01 per Warrant at any time while the Warrants are exercisable, (iii) upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, and (iv) if, and only if, the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $14.25 per share (the “Floor Price”) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption; and (B) the Private Warrants (i) may be exercised whether or not a registration statement relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is effective and current, and (ii) will not be redeemable by us so long as they are still held by the Insiders or their Permitted Transferees (as defined below). The purchasers of the Private Warrants have agreed that the Private Warrants will not be sold or transferred by them, except in certain cases to “Permitted Transferees” (as defined below), until 90 days after the consummation of a business combination. “Permitted Transferees” shall mean any of the employees of Promethean Investments LLP, an affiliate of theirs, or to the Company’s directors or special advisors, at the same cost per warrant originally paid by them, who agree to become subject to the same transfer restrictions as such Insider upon receiving such Private Warrants.
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $7.00 per whole share in the case of both the Public Warrants and the Private Warrants, subject to the adjustments provided inSection 4 hereof and in the last sentence of thisSection 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Warrant Agreement refers to the price per share at which 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 20 Business Days;provided,however, that any such reduction shall be identical in percentage terms among all of the Warrants. “Business Day” shall be any day where the Depository is open for trading.
3.2Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the later of (i) the consummation by the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, or other similar business combination as described more fully in the Company’s Registration Statement (“Business Combination”), (ii) January 23, 2009, or (iii) the date fixed for redemption of the Warrants as provided inSection 6 of this Agreement (“Expiration Date”);provided,however that the Public Warrants will only be exercisable if a registration statement relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is effective and current. The Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 23, 2012 or earlier upon redemption. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth inSection 6 hereunder), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Expiration Date.
3.3Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Warrant Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering, not later than 5:00 P.M., New York time, on any Business Day during the Exercise Period (the “Exercise Date”) to the Warrant Agent 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, (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) free on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purpose in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depository from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase in the form attached hereto as part ofExhibit A orExhibit B, as applicable, the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants to be exercised, properly completed and executed, or in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depository’s procedures; and (iii) the Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrants are exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrants, the exchange of the Warrants for the Common
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Stock, and the issuance of the Common Stock in full, in lawful money of the United States, by cash, by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds, or by certified check or bank draft payable to the Company;provided,however, the holders will have the option to exercise Warrants on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the “Exercise Fair Market Value” (defined below) by (y) the Exercise Fair Market Value. The “Exercise Fair Market Value” is the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the five trading days commencing on the day after notice of exercise of the warrant is received by the Company.
(i) If any of (A) the Definitive Warrant Certificate or the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, (B) the Election to Purchase, or (C) the Warrant Price therefor, is received by the Warrant Agent after 5:00 P.M., New York time, on a specified day or if such day is not a Business Day, the Warrants will be deemed to be received and exercised on, and the applicable Exercise Date shall be the Business Day next succeeding such day. If the Warrants are received or deemed to be received after the Expiration Date, the exercise thereof will be null and void and any funds delivered to the Warrant Agent will be returned to the Holder or Participant, as the case may be, as soon as practicable. In no event will interest accrue on funds deposited with the Warrant Agent in respect of an exercise or attempted exercise of Warrants. The validity of any exercise of Warrants will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion and such determination will be final and binding upon the Holder and the Warrant Agent. Neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any obligation to inform a Holder of the invalidity of any exercise of Warrants.
(ii) The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in payment of the Warrant Price in the account of the Company maintained with the Warrant Agent for such purpose and shall advise the Company at the end of each Business Day on which funds for the exercise of the Warrants are received of the amount so deposited to its account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephonic advice to the Company in writing.
(iii) The Warrant Agent shall, by 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time on the Business Day following the Exercise Date of any Warrant, advise the Company and the transfer agent and registrar in respect of (a) the shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) issuable upon such exercise as to the number of Warrants exercised in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (b) the instructions of each Registered Holder or Participant, as the case may be, with respect to delivery of the Shares issuable upon such exercise, and the delivery of Definitive Warrant Certificates, as appropriate, evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants remaining after such exercise, (c) in case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the notation that shall be made to the records maintained by the Depository, its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants remaining after such exercise, and (d) such other information as the Company or such transfer agent and registrar shall reasonably require.
(iv) The Company shall, by 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the third Business Day next succeeding the Exercise Date of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price, execute, issue, and deliver to the Warrant Agent, the Shares to which such Registered Holder or Participant, as the case may be, is entitled, in fully registered form, registered in such name or names as may be directed by such Registered Holder or Participant, as the case may be. Upon receipt of such Shares, the Warrant Agent shall, by 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the fifth Business Day next succeeding such Exercise Date, transmit such Shares to or upon the order of the Registered Holder or Participant, as the case may be.
(v) In lieu of delivering physical certificates representing the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, provided the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the Depository Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants to the Registered Holder or Participant by crediting the account of Registered Holder’s prime broker with Depository or of the Participant through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission System. The time periods for delivery described in the immediately preceding paragraph shall apply to the electronic transmittals described herein.
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(vi) The accrual of dividends, if any, on the Shares issued upon the valid exercise of any Warrant will be governed by the terms generally applicable to the Shares. Starting with the Exercise Date, the former Holder of the Warrants exercised will be entitled to the benefits generally available to other holders of Shares and such former Holder’s right to receive payments of dividends and any other amounts payable in respect of the Shares shall be governed by, and shall be subject to, the terms and provisions generally applicable to such Shares.
(vii) Warrants may be exercised only in whole numbers of Shares. No fractional Shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrant, but rather the number of Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number. If fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Warrant Certificate for the number of unexercised Warrants remaining shall be executed by the Company and countersigned by the Warrant Agent as provided inSection 2 hereof, and delivered to the holder of the Warrant Certificate at the address specified on the books of the Warrant Agent or as otherwise specified by such Registered Holder. If fewer than all the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate are exercised, a notation shall be made to the records maintained by the Depository, its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance of the Warrants remaining after such exercise.
(viii) The Company will pay all documentary stamp or other taxes or governmental charge attributable to the initial issuance of Shares upon the exercise of Warrants;provided,however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any stamp or other tax or governmental charge required to be paid in connection with any transfer involved in the issue of the Shares in a name other than that of the Registered Holder of a Warrant Certificate surrendered upon the exercise of Warrants; and in the event that any such transfer is involved, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Shares until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has been established to the Company’s satisfaction that no such tax or other charge is due.
3.3.2Issuance of Certificates. Subject toSection 7.4 of this Agreement, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any securities pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant unless (i) a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Common Stock issuable upon exercise is effective or (ii) in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the exercise of the Warrants is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and such securities are qualified for sale or exempt from qualification under applicable securities laws of the states or other jurisdictions in which the Registered Holders reside. Warrants may not be exercised by, or securities issued to, any Registered Holder in any state in which such exercise or issuance would be unlawful.
3.3.3Valid 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.
3.3.4Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such 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 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 stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.
3.4No Cash Settlement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, under no circumstances will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of the Warrants. As a result, any or all of the Warrants may expire worthless.
4. Adjustments.
4.1Stock Dividends; Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions ofSection 4.6, 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.
4.2Extraordinary Dividend. 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 Common Stock (or other shares of the Company's capital stock into which the Warrants are exerciseable), other than (a) as described inSections 4.1,4.3 or4.5, (b) regular quarterly or other periodic dividends, (c) in connection with the conversion rights of the holders of Common Stock upon consummation of the Company's initial Business Combination, or (d) in connection with the Company's liquidation and the distribution of its assets upon its failure to consummate a Business Combination (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company's Board of Directors, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend.
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4.3Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions ofSection 4.7, 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.
4.4Adjustments in Warrant Price. Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided inSections 4.1 and4.3 above, each of the Warrant Price and the Floor Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price and Floor Price, as the case may be, 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.
4.5Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change covered bySection 4.1 or4.3 hereof or one that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another 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 shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the 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, by a Warrant holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company obtainable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered bySections 4.1 or4.3, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant toSections 4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4, and thisSection 4.5. The provisions of thisSection 4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales, or other transfers.
4.6Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable on 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 inSections 4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4, or4.5, then, in any such event, the Company shall give written notice to the 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.
4.7No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to thisSection 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 the number of the shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.
4.8Form of Warrant. The forms of Warrants need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to thisSection 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.
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4.9Notice of Certain Transactions. In the event that the Company shall propose to (a) offer the holders of its Common Stock rights to subscribe for or to purchase any securities convertible into shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights, or options, (b) issue any rights, options, or warrants entitling the holders of Common Stock to subscribe for shares of Common Stock, or (c) make a tender offer, redemption offer, or exchange offer with respect to the Common Stock, the Company shall send to the Warrant holders a notice of such proposed action or offer. Such notice shall be mailed to the Registered Holders at their addresses as they appear in the Warrant Register, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such dividend, distribution, or rights, or the date such issuance or event is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of Common Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and shall briefly indicate the effect of such action on the Common Stock and on the number and kind of any other shares of stock and on other property, if any, and the number of shares of Common Stock and other property, if any, issuable upon exercise of each Warrant and the Warrant Price after giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to thisSection 4 which would be required as a result of such action. Such notice shall be given as promptly as practicable after the Board has determined to take any such action and (x) in the case of any action covered by clause (a) or (b) above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining the holders of the Common Stock for purposes of such action or (y) in the case of any other such action at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
4.10Other Events. If any event occurs as to which the foregoing provisions of thisSection 4 are not strictly applicable or, if strictly applicable, would not, in the good faith judgment of the Board, fairly and adequately protect the purchase rights of the Registered Holders of the Warrants in accordance with the essential intent and principles of such provisions, then the Board shall make such adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the good faith opinion of the Board, to protect such purchase rights as aforesaid.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Private Warrants and the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only as part of 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. For the avoidance of doubt, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit.
5.2Registration of Transfer. Subject toSection 5.3 below, the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.3Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants;provided,however, that except as otherwise provided herein or in any Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depository, to another nominee of the Depository, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository;providedfurther,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. Upon any such registration of transfer, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee a new Warrant certificate or Warrant certificates of any authorized denomination evidencing in the aggregate a like number of unexercised Warrants.
5.4Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Warrant certificate for a fraction of a Warrant.
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5.5Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.6Warrant 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 thisSection 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.
6. Redemption.
6.1Redemption. Subject toSection 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon the notice referred to inSection 6.2, at the price of $.01 per Warrant (the “Redemption Price”),provided,however, that the last sales price of the Common Stock has been equal to or greater than the Floor Price for any of twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is sent by the Company; andprovidedfurther,however, that with respect to the Private Warrants, such redemption right shall not be applicable so long as the Warrants are held by any of the Insiders or their Permitted Transferees; andprovided further, the Company may redeem the Warrants only if there is an effective registration statement with respect to the Common Stock to enable the exercise of the Warrants during the period specified inSection 6.2 hereof. The provisions of thisSection 6.1 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the representative of the underwriters. In the event the Company calls the Warrants for redemption pursuant to thisSection 6.1, the Company shall have the option to require all (but not part) of the holders of those Warrants who desire to exercise their Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a cashless basis. If the Company requires such holders to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis, the holder of such Warrants (including the Private Warrants) shall pay the Warrant Price 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 Warrant Price of the Warrants and the “Redemption Fair Market Value” (as defined below) by (y) the Redemption Fair Market Value. The “Redemption Fair Market Value” is the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent by the Company to the holders.
6.2Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants permitted to be redeemed pursuant toSection 6.1 (the “Redeemable Warrants”), the Company shall fix a date for the redemption. Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Registered Holders of the Redeemable Warrants 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 on the date sent whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.
6.3Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Redeemable Warrants may be exercised, for cash or on a “cashless basis”, in accordance withSection 3 of this Agreement at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant toSection 6.2 hereof and prior to the time and date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, the record holder of the Redeemable Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive the Redemption Price upon surrender of the Redeemable Warrants.
6.4Outstanding Warrants Only. The Company understands that the redemption rights provided for by thisSection 6 apply only to outstanding Redeemable Warrants. To the extent a person holds rights to purchase Redeemable Warrants, such purchase rights shall not be extinguished by redemption. However, once such purchase rights are exercised, the Company may redeem the Redeemable Warrants issued upon such exercise provided that the criteria for redemption is met, including the opportunity of the Redeemable Warrant holders to exercise prior to redemption pursuant toSection 6.3.
6.5No Other Rights to Cash Payment. Except for a redemption in accordance with thisSection 6, no holder of any Warrant shall be entitled to any cash payment whatsoever from the Company in connection with the ownership, exercise or surrender of any Warrant under this Warrant Agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is current under the Act with respect to the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
7.1No 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.
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7.2Lost, 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.
7.3Reservation 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.
7.4Registration of Common Stock. If the Company consummates an Initial Public Offering, the Company agrees that prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period, it shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a new registration statement, for the registration under the Act of, and it shall take such action as may be necessary to qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company, the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. In either case, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become effective on or prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the Public Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Warrants shall not be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Common Stock unless, at the time a holder seeks to exercise the Warrants, a prospectus relating to Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is current and the Common Stock has been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the Warrants. In addition, the Company agrees to use its reasonable efforts to register such securities under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising warrant holders to the extent an exemption is not available. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Warrant can expire unexercised regardless of whether a registration statement is current under the Act with respect to the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
8.1Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.
8.1.1Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her, or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.1.2Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
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8.1.3Merger 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.
8.2Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.2.1Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.2.2Further 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.
8.3Liability of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.3.2Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own 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 negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.
8.3.3Exclusions. 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 ofSection 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.
8.4Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.
8.5Waiver. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all right, title, interest, or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder), and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment, or satisfaction for any Claim against the funds in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1Successors. 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.
9.2Notices. Any notice, statement, or demand authorized by this Warrant 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:
Atlas Acquisition Holdings Corp.
c/o Hauslein & Company, Inc.
11450 SE Dixie Highway, Suite 105
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
Attn: James N. Hauslein
c/o Hauslein & Company, Inc.
11450 SE Dixie Highway, Suite 105
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
Attn: James N. Hauslein
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:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level
New York, NY 10038
Attn: Compliance Department
59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level
New York, NY 10038
Attn: Compliance Department
with a copy in each case to:
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
2375 E Camelback Road, Suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Facsimile: (602) 445-8603
Attn: Brian H. Blaney, Esq.
2375 E Camelback Road, Suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Facsimile: (602) 445-8603
Attn: Brian H. Blaney, Esq.
and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
300 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Facsimile: (213) 687-5600
Attn: Gregg A. Noel, Esq.
300 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Facsimile: (213) 687-5600
Attn: Gregg A. Noel, Esq.
and
Lazard Capital Markets LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10020
Facsimile: (212) 641-2636
Attn: Robert Berger
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10020
Facsimile: (212) 641-2636
Attn: Robert Berger
and
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
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Facsimile: (212) 404-9212
Attn: Scott Greenberg
Attn: Scott Greenberg
9.3Applicable 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 conflict of laws. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding, or claim against either of them 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 and the Warrant Agent hereby waive 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 Warrant Agent 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 inSection 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party receiving such service in any action, proceeding, or claim.
9.4Persons 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 ofSections 2.5,6.1,6.4,7.4,9.2, and9.8 hereof, the representative of the underwriters, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. The representative of the underwriters (on behalf of the underwriters) shall be deemed to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect toSections 2.5,6.1,6.4,7.4,9.2, and9.8 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 the representative of the underwriters with respect toSections 2.5,6.1,6.4,7.4,9.2, and9.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5Examination 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.
9.6Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of 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. Facsimile signatures shall constitute original signatures for all purposes of this Agreement.
9.7Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8Amendments. 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 of the representative of the underwriters and the Registered Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period in accordance withSections 3.1 and3.2, respectively, without such consent.
9.9Severability. 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.
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9.10Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises, and commitments, whether written or oral, express, or implied, relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises, and commitments are hereby canceled and terminated, including without limitation the Original Agreement.
[Signatures Appear on Following Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
ATLAS ACQUISITION HOLDINGS CORP. | |||||||||
By: Name: | /s/ James N. Hauslein | ||||||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY | |||||||||
By: Name: | /s/ Felix Orihuela | ||||||||
Title: | Vice President |
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