EXHIBIT 4.5
WARRANT AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of __________ ___, 2005 between Ardent Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, with offices at 1415 Kellum Place, Suite
205, Garden City, New York 11530 ("Company"), and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 17 Battery Place, New
York, New York 10004 ("Warrant Agent").
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering ("Public Offering")
of Units ("Units") and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and
deliver up to (i) 6,900,000 Warrants ("Public Warrants") to the public
investors, and (ii) 300,000 Warrants to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. ("EBC") or its
designees ("Representative's Warrants" and, together with the Public Warrants,
the "Warrants"), each of such Public Warrants evidencing the right of the holder
thereof to purchase one share of common stock, par value $.0001 per share, of
the Company's Common Stock ("Common Stock") for $5.00, subject to adjustment as
described herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
a Registration Statement, No. 333-________ on Form S-1 ("Registration
Statement") for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
("Act") of, among other securities, the Warrants and the Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of 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 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 or President 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. EFFECT OF COUNTERSIGNATURE. Unless and until countersigned by the
Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no
effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3. REGISTRATION.
2.3.1. WARRANT REGISTER. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books
("Warrant Register"), for the registration of original issuance and the
registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the
Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names
of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in
accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.
2.3.2. REGISTERED HOLDER. Prior to due presentment for registration
of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat
the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant
Register ("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.
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2.4. DETACHABILITY OF WARRANTS. The securities comprising the Units will
not be separately transferable until 90 days after the date hereof unless EBC
informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no
event will EBC allow separate trading of the securities comprising the Units
until the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited
balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the
Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise
of the Underwriter's over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is
exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K.
2.5 WARRANTS AND REPRESENTATIVE'S WARRANTS. The Representative's Warrants
shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants except
with respect to the Warrant Price as set forth below in Section 3.1.
3. TERMS AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
3.1. WARRANT PRICE. Each Public Warrant shall, when countersigned by the
Warrant Agent, entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions
of such Public Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the
Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of
$5.00 per whole share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof
and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. Each Representative's Warrant
shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the registered holder
thereof, subject to the provisions of such Representative's Warrant and of this
Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common
Stock stated therein, at the price of $6.25 per whole share, subject to the
adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof. 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.
3.2. DURATION OF WARRANTS. A Warrant may be exercised only during the
period ("Exercise Period") commencing on the later of (i) the consummation by
the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other
similar business combination ("Business Combination") (as described more fully
in the Company's Registration Statement) and (ii) ________ __, 2006, and
terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of (i)
_________ ___, 2009 or (ii) the date fixed for redemption of the Warrants as
provided in Section 6 of this Agreement ("Expiration Date"). Except with respect
to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6
hereunder), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall
become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under
this Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Expiration Date. The
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Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by
delaying the Expiration Date.
3.3. EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.
3.3.1. PAYMENT. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this
Warrant Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be
exercised by the registered holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of
the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the
Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as
set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full, in lawful money
of the United States, in cash, good certified check or good bank draft payable
to the order of the Company (or as otherwise agreed to by the Company), the
Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is
exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise
of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Common Stock, and the
issuance of the Common Stock.
3.3.2. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES. As soon as practicable after the
exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant
Price, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Warrant a
certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock to
which he is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by
him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new
countersigned Warrant for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall
not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be
obligated to deliver any securities pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant unless
a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Common Stock is
effective. 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 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.
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3.3.5. INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.
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, and subject to the
provisions of Section 4.6, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is
decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or
reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the
effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split,
reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in
outstanding shares of Common Stock.
4.3 ADJUSTMENTS IN EXERCISE PRICE. Whenever the number of shares of Common
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in
Section 4.1 and 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest
cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by
a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such
adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.4. REPLACEMENT OF SECURITIES UPON REORGANIZATION, ETC. In case of any
reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof or that solely affects
the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another 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
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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; and if any reclassification also results in a change in
shares of Common Stock covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2, then such adjustment shall
be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions
of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications,
reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
4.5. 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 or 4.4, 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.
4.6. NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this
Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares
upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this
Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of
such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall,
upon such exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of the
shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.
4.7. FORM OF WARRANT. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of
any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such
adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares 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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5. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF WARRANTS.
5.1. REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER. The Warrant Agent shall register the
transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant
Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with
signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for
transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate
number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the
Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent
to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2. PROCEDURE FOR SURRENDER OF WARRANTS. Warrants may be surrendered to
the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and
thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new
Warrants as requested by the registered holder of the Warrants so surrendered,
representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in
the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend,
the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in
exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for
the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the
new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3. FRACTIONAL WARRANTS. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to
effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the
issuance of a warrant certificate for a fraction of a warrant.
5.4. SERVICE CHARGES. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or
registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5. WARRANT EXECUTION AND COUNTERSIGNATURE. The Warrant Agent is hereby
authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply
the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such
purpose.
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6. REDEMPTION.
6.1. REDEMPTION. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the
outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time
after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of
the Warrant Agent, upon the notice referred to in Section 6.2., at the price of
$.01 per Warrant ("Redemption Price"), provided that the last sales price of the
Common Stock has been at least $8.50 per share, on each 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 given. The provisions of this
Section 6.1 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written
consent of EBC.
6.2. DATE FIXED FOR, AND NOTICE OF, REDEMPTION. In the event the Company
shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the
redemption. 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 Warrants to be redeemed at their
last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed
in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly
given whether or not the registered holder received such notice.
6.3. EXERCISE AFTER NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. The Warrants may be exercised 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 time and date fixed for redemption. 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 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS ONLY. The Company understands that the redemption
rights provided for by this Section 6 apply only to outstanding Warrants. To the
extent a person holds rights to purchase Warrants, such purchase rights shall
not be extinguished by redemption. However, once such purchase rights are
exercised, the Company may redeem the Warrants issued upon such exercise
provided that the criteria for redemption is met. The provisions of this Section
6.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of
EBC.
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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 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 COMMON STOCK. 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 is 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 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. The provisions of
this Section 7.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior
written consent of EBC.
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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 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 Common Stock not later
than the effective date of any such appointment.
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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 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.
8.4.2. INDEMNITY. 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.
8.4.3. EXCLUSIONS. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility
with respect to the
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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 moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of
shares of the Company's 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 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 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:
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
1415 Kellum Place, Suite 205
Garden City, New York 11530
Attn: Chairman
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
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with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
17 Battery Place
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Compliance Department
with a copy in each case to:
Bingham McCutchen LLP
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Floyd I. Wittlin, Esq.
and
Graubard Miller
600 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
and
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
600 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor
New York, New York 10016
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 conflict of laws. The Company
hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or
relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the
courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction,
which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection
to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenience
forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served
by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section
9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and
binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.
9.4. PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
expressed and
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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 6.1, 6.4, 7.4 and 9.2hereof, EBC, any right, remedy, or
claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant,
condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. EBC shall be deemed to be
a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 6.1, 6.4,
7.4 and 9.2 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and
agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and EBC with respect to the Sections
6.1, 6.4, 7.4 and 9.2 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
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
9.7. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience
only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the
interpretation thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties
hereto as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: ARDENT ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:
- ------------------ ----------------------------------
Name: Barry J. Gordon
Title: Chairman
Attest: CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY
By:
- ------------------ ----------------------------------
Name: Steven Nelson
Title: Chairman
15