Exhibit 10.2(a)


 


[_], 2014


AR Capital Acquisition Corp.


405 Park Avenue - 2nd Floor


New York, NY 10022


 


Re: Initial Public Offering


 


Ladies and Gentlemen:


 


This letter (this “Letter
Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting
Agreement”) entered into by and between AR Capital Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representative of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”),
relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of 34,500,000
of the Company’s units (including up to 4,500,000 Units that may be purchased to cover overallotments, if any) (the “Units”),
each comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”),
and one-half of one warrant (each, a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase
one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in the Public Offering
pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 No. 333-198014 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed
by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company shall apply
to have the Units listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.


 


In order to induce
the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, AR Capital, LLC (the “Sponsor”)
and each of Nicholas S. Schorsch, William M. Kahane and Nicholas Radesca (each, a “Founder” and collectively,
the “Founders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:


 


1. The Sponsor and
each Founder agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with
such proposed Business Combination, it or he shall vote all Founder Shares and any shares acquired by it in the Public Offering
or the secondary public market in favor of such proposed Business Combination.


 


2. The Sponsor and
the each Founder hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination (as defined in the
Underwriting Agreement) within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering or such later period approved by the Company’s
stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Sponsor and each Founder
shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of
the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal
to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay
its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding
public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right
to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible
following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board
of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for
claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and the Founders agree to not propose any amendment to
the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s
obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from
the closing of the Public Offering, unless the Company provides its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares
of Common Stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on
deposit 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 franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.


 




    	 



    	 



    

  


The Sponsor and each
Founder acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust
Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares. The
Sponsor and each Founder hereby further waives, with respect to any shares of the Common Stock held by it, him or her, any redemption
rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any
such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer
made by the Company to purchase shares of the Common Stock (although the Sponsor and the Founders shall be entitled to redemption
and liquidation rights with respect to any shares of the Common Stock (other than the Founder Shares) it or they hold if the Company
fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering.


 


3. During the period
commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the undersigned shall not (i)
sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree
to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent
position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of
the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Common Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible
into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by him, her or it, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock,
Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by him, her or it,
whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce
any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company,
the undersigned further agrees that the forgoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Units that the
undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.


 




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4. In the event of
the liquidation of the Trust Account, AR Capital, LLC (the “Indemnitor”) agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to,
any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether
pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third
party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company has entered
into an acquisition agreement (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification
of the Company by the Indemnitor shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services
rendered (other than the Company’s independent public accountants) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce
the amount of funds in the Trust Account, provided, further, that only if such third party or Target has not executed
an agreement waiving claims against and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account whether or not such agreement is enforceable.
In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Indemnitor shall not be
responsible for any liability as a result of any such third party claims. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, such indemnification
of the Company by the Indemnitor shall not apply as to any claims under the Company’s obligation to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Indemnitor shall have the
right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following
written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitor, the Indemnitor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake
such defense.


 


5. To the extent that
the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 4,500,000 Units (as described in the Prospectus),
the Sponsor agrees that it shall return to the Company, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the percentage of Founder Shares
held by it, for cancellation at no cost, a number of Founder Shares equal to 1,125,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator
of which is 4,500,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option,
and (ii) the denominator of which is 4,500,000. The Sponsor further agrees that to the extent that (a) the size of the Public Offering
is increased or decreased and (b) the Sponsor has either purchased or sold shares of Common Stock or an adjustment to the number
of Founder Shares has been effected by way of a stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, contribution back to capital
or otherwise, in each case in connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references
to 4,500,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the immediately preceding sentence shall be changed to a number
equal to 15% of the number of shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 1,125,000 in
the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number of shares of the Common Stock that
the Sponsor and the independent directors would have to collectively return to the Company in order for the number of Founder Shares
to equal 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Public Offering.


 


6. (a) The Sponsor
and each Founder hereby agrees not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other blank check
company that is formed in the United States until the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with respect to a Business
Combination or the Company has failed to complete a Business Combination within 24 months after the closing of the Public Offering.


 




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(b) Each of the Sponsor
and each Founder hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) each of the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured
in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or Founder of his, her or its obligations under paragraph 6(a), (ii) monetary damages
may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition
to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.


 


7. (a) On the date
of the Prospectus, the Founder Shares will be placed into an escrow account maintained in New York, New York by Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, acting as escrow agent. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the Sponsor agrees not to transfer,
assign, sell or release the shares from escrow until one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier
if, subsequent to a Business Combination, (i) the last sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00
per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within
any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the Company consummates
a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders
having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-up”).


 


(b) The Sponsor agrees
that it shall not effectuate any Transfer of Private Placement Warrants or Common Stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days
after the completion of a Business Combination.


 


(c) Notwithstanding
the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of
Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants are permitted to (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates
or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members of the Sponsor or their affiliates, or any affiliates
of the Sponsor, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the
beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable
organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d)
in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection
with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased;
(f) by virtue of the laws of the state of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution
of the Sponsor; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of a Business Combination; or (h) in
the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s
stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the
completion of a Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted
transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.


 




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8. Each Founder’s
biographical information furnished to the Company that is included in the Prospectus is true and accurate in all respects and does
not omit any material information with respect to such Founder’s background. The Founder’s questionnaire furnished
to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. Each Founder represents and warrants that: such Founder is not subject to
or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from
any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; such Founder has never been convicted of, or pleaded
guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or
(iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and such Founder is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding;
and neither such Founder nor the Sponsor has ever been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange
or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked.


 


9. Except
as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any affiliate of the Sponsor, nor any director or officer of
the Company, shall receive any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a
loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of
the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the
following: repayment of a loan of up to $200,000 made to the Company by the Sponsor, pursuant to a Promissory Note dated
August 1, 2014; payment of an aggregate of $10,000 per month to RCS Advisory Services, LLC, an affiliate of the Sponsor, for
office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement,
dated September 8, 2014; reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and
consummating an initial Business Combination, so long as no proceeds of the Public Offering held in the Trust Account may be
applied to the payment of such expenses prior to the consummation of a Business Combination; and repayment of loans, if any,
and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or
certain of the Company’s officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial
Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the
working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds
from the Trust Account are used for such repayment.


 


10. The Sponsor has
full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition
or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and each Founder hereby
consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or director of the Company, as applicable.


 




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11. As used herein,
(i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase,
reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Founder Shares”
shall mean the shares of the Common Stock of the Company held by the Sponsor [and the Company’s independent directors] prior
to the consummation of the Public Offering; (iii) “Private Placement Warrants “ shall mean
the Warrants to purchase 7,750,000 shares of Common Stock (or up to 8,650,000 shares of Common Stock if the Underwriter’s
over-allotment option is exercised in full) that are acquired by the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $7.75 million (or
$8.65 million if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.00 per Warrant, in a private placement
that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (iv) “Public Stockholders”
shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (v) “Trust Account” shall mean the
trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering shall be deposited; and (vi) “Transfer”
shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase
or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position
or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security,
(b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise,
or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).


 


12. This Letter Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate
in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended,
modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument
executed by all parties hereto.


 


13. No party hereto
may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate
to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor, each
of the Founders and each of their respective successors, heirs and assigns.


 


14. This Letter Agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to
conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto
(i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall
be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction
and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue
or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.


 


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


 




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16. This Letter Agreement
shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however,
that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by December
31, 2014, provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.


 


[Signature page follows]


 




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	Sincerely,
	 	 
	 	AR CAPITAL, LLC
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name: Nicholas S. Schorsch
	 	 	Title: Manager
	 	 	 


 


 


	Acknowledged and Agreed:	 
	 	 
	AR CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.	 
	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	Name: William M. Kahane	 
	 	Title: Chief Executive Officer