Exhibit 10.2


 


INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT


 


This Investment Management
Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of January 20, 2021 by and between Authentic
Equity Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).


 


WHEREAS, the Company’s
registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-251575 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus
(the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”),
each of which consists of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary
Shares”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one
Ordinary Share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared
effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and


 


WHEREAS, the Company
has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC and BMO
Capital Markets Corp., as representatives (the “Representatives”) to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”)
named therein; and


 


WHEREAS, as described
in the Prospectus, $200,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in
the Underwriting Agreement) (or $230,000,000 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full)
will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States
(the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Ordinary Shares included
in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently
earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee
shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders
and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and


 


WHEREAS, pursuant to
the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $7,000,000, or $8,050,000 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase
additional units is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable
by the Company to the Underwriters upon the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred
Discount”); and


 


WHEREAS, the Company
and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold
the Property.


 


NOW THEREFORE, IT IS
AGREED:


 


1. Agreements and
Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:


 


(a) Hold the Property
in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in
the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion
or more) in the United States, maintained by Trustee and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably
satisfactory to the Company;


 


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


 






     


     


    

 


(c) In a timely manner,
upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the
meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money
market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined
by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn
no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank
credits or other consideration;


 


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


 


(e) Promptly notify the
Company and the Representatives of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by
the Company;


 


(f) Supply any necessary
information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation
of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;


 


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


 


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


 


(i) Commence liquidation
of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the
Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit
A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer
or other authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the
Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income
taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents
referred to therein, or (y) the date which is the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the Offering and (2) such later date
as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and
articles of association, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust
Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B
and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released
to the Company to pay its income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the
Public Shareholders of record as of such date. It is acknowledged and agreed that there should be no reduction in the principal
amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account;


 


(j) Upon written request
from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C
(a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company
the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result
of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company
by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing
authority, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided,
however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall
liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it
being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from
the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company
is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;


 






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(k) Upon written request
from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D
(a “Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute to the remitting brokers
on behalf of Public Shareholders redeeming Ordinary Shares the amount required to pay redeemed Ordinary Shares from Public Shareholders
pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and


 


(l) Not make any withdrawals
or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) above.


 


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


 


(a) Give all instructions
to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized
officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), (j) or (k) hereof, the
Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which
it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions,
provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;


 


(b) Subject to Section
4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel
fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection
with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand,
which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest
earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.
Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant
to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of
such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to
conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the
Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to
settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;


 


(c) Pay the Trustee the
fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing
fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property
shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(k)
hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation
of the Offering. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this
Section 2(c) and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;


 






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(d) In connection with
any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”),
provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the shareholder meeting verifying the vote
of such shareholders regarding such Business Combination;


 


(e) Provide the Representatives
with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed
withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;


 


(f) Unless otherwise
agreed between the Company and the Representatives, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered
in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly
to the account or accounts directed by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters prior to any transfer of the funds held
in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person;


 


(g) Instruct the Trustee
to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any
distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement;


 


(h) If the Company seeks
to amend any provisions of its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing
of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection
with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete
its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to
the rights of holders of the Ordinary Shares (in each case, an “Amendment”), the Company will provide
the Trustee with a letter (an “Amendment Notification Letter”) in the form of Exhibit D providing
instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their redemption option in connection with such
Amendment; and


 


(i) Within five (5) business
days after the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such option
to purchase additional units expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount.


 


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


 


(a) Imply obligations,
perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that
which is expressly set forth herein;


 


(b) Take any action with
respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third
party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;


 


(c) Institute any proceeding
for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with
respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received written instructions from the Company given as provided
herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;


 


(d) Change the investment
of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1 hereof;


 






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


 


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


 


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


 


(h) Verify the accuracy
of the information contained in the Registration Statement;


 


(i) Provide any assurance
that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration
Statement;


 


(j) File information
returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements
to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;


 


(k) Prepare, execute
and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating
to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited
to, income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or


 


(l) Verify calculations,
qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j)
or 1(k) hereof.


 


4. Trust Account
Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”)
to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account
that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including,
without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against
the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.


 


5. Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate as follows:


 


(a) If the Trustee gives
written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate
a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company
notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of
this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited
to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate;
provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days
of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with
any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such
deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or


 






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(b) At such time that
the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section
1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall
terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).


 


6. Miscellaneous.


 


(a) The Company and the
Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred
from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security
procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons
may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers,
the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other
identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising
out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability
or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.


 


(b) This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts
of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed
in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but
one instrument.


 


(c) This Agreement contains
the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Section 1(i),
1(j) and 1(k) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty-five
percent (65%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company,
voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has properly elected
to redeem his or her Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend this Agreement to modify the substance or timing
of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of the Ordinary Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination
or an Amendment or to redeem 100% of its Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within
the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), this Agreement or
any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed
by each of the parties hereto.


 


(d) The parties hereto
consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes
of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY
WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.


 






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(e) Any notice, consent
or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent
by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by electronic
mail:


 


if to the Trustee, to:


 


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com

cgonzalez@continentalstock.com


 


if to the Company, to:


 


Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp.

32 Elm Place, 2nd Floor

Rye, NY 10580

Attn: David Hooper

Email: dhooper@authenticequityllc.com


 


in each case, with copies to:


 


Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Christian O. Nagler

Debbie P. Yee, P.C.

Email: cnagler@kirkland.com

debbie.yee@kirkland.com


 


and


 


Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel

Email: sgreen@jefferies.com


 


and


 


BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attn: Equity Capital Markets

Legal Department

Fax: (212) 702-1205


 


and


 


Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue

Palo Alto, California 94301

Attn.: Gregg A. Noel

Michael J. Mies

Email: gregg.noel@skadden.com

michael.mies@skadden.com


 


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


 






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(g) This Agreement is
the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation
and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.


 


(h) This Agreement may
be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission
shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.


 


(i) Each of the Company
and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters are third-party beneficiaries
of this Agreement.


 


(j) Except as specified
herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.


 


[Signature
Page Follows]


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.


 


	
        	CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Francis Wolf
	 	 	Name:	Francis Wolf
	 	 	Title:	Vice President
	 	 	 
	 	AUTHENTIC EQUITY ACQUISITION CORP.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ David Hooper
	 	 	Name: 	David Hooper
	 	 	Title: 	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


 


Signature Page to Investment Management
Trust Agreement


 




     


     


    

 


SCHEDULE A


 


	Free Item	 	Time and method of payment	 	Amount	 
	Initial acceptance fee	 	Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer	 	$	3,500	 
	Annual Fee	 	First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check	 	$	10,000	 
	Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i), (j), and (k)	 	Billed by Trustee to Company under Section 1	 	$	250	 
	Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k)	 	Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k)	 	 	Prevailing rates	 




 




     


     


    

 


EXHIBIT A


 


[Letterhead of Company]



 


[Insert date]


 


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez


 


Re: Trust Account
- Termination Letter


 


Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:


 


Pursuant to Section
1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of January 20, 2021 (the
“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with (the “Target
Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”)
on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or
such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.


 


In accordance with
the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account, and
to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation
Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the
Representatives (with respect to the Deferred Discount) and the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged
and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in said trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution,
neither the Company nor the Representatives will earn any interest or dividends.


 


On the Consummation
Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated,
or will be consummated substantially concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”),
and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized
officer of the Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders,
if a vote is held and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer
of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction
Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon
your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event
that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify
the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account
and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary
for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall
be terminated.


 


In the event that the
Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on
or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from
the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the
business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.





 


	 	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	           
	 	Name:
	 	Title:


 


		cc:	Jefferies LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.



 




    A-1


     


    

 


EXHIBIT B


 


[Letterhead of Company]


 


[Insert date]


 


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez


 


Re: Trust Account
- Termination Letter


 


Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:


 


Pursuant to Section
1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of January 20, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business
combination with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the
Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating
to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.


 


In accordance with
the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the
total proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Shareholders.
The Company has selected ____________ as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be
entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company
on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the trust operating account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in
your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Shareholders in accordance
with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon
the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the
Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section
1(j) of the Trust Agreement.


 


	
         

        
	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	         
	 	Name:
	 	Title:


 


		cc:	Jefferies LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.



 




    B-1


     


    

 


EXHIBIT C


 


[Letterhead of Company]


 


[Insert date]


 


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez


 


Re: Trust Account
- Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction


 


Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:


 


Pursuant to Section
1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of January 20, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $           
of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.


 


The Company needs such
funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of
the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt
of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:


 


[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]


 


	
         

        
	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	         
	 	Name:
	 	Title:





 


		cc:	Jefferies LLC and BMO Capital Markets Corp.



 




    C-1


     


    

 


EXHIBIT D


 


[Letterhead of Company]


 


[Insert date]


 


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez


 


Re: Trust Account
- Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction


 


Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:


 


Pursuant to Section
1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of January 20, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company’s shareholders
$            of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of
the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.


 


Pursuant to Section
1(k) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the
terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $[•]
of the proceeds of the Trust Account to the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. for distribution to the shareholders
that have requested redemption of their shares in connection with such Amendment.


 





	
         

        
	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	         
	 	Name:
	 	Title:


 


		cc:	Jefferies LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.



 


 


D-1