Unassociated Document


     

    
      SECURITIES
ESCROW AGREEMENT

      


      SECURITIES
ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of May [__], 2010 (the “Agreement”) by and among 57th
Street General Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), 57th
Street GAC Holdings LLC (“Holdings” or the “Initial Stockholder”), the
undersigned parties listed as the Underwriter Warrantholders on the signature
pages hereto (the “Underwriter Warrantholders”), and Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Escrow Agent”).

      


      WHEREAS,
the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated May [__], 2010
(“Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc., (“MJ” or the
“Representative”), acting as representative of the several underwriters
(collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the
Underwriters have agreed to purchase 5,000,000 units (not including the
underwriters’ over-allotment option) (“Units”) of the Company’ securities. Each
Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per
share (the “Common Stock”), and one warrant (“Warrant”), each Warrant to
purchase one share of Common Stock, all as more fully described in the Company’s
definitive Prospectus, dated May [__], 2010 (“Prospectus”) comprising part of
the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-163134) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), declared
effective on May [__], 2010 (the “Effective Date”);

      


      WHEREAS,
the Initial Stockholder has agreed, as a condition of the Underwriters’
obligation to purchase the Units pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and to
offer them to the public, to deposit all of its shares of Common Stock, as set
forth opposite its name on Exhibit A attached hereto, in aggregate 638,889
shares (83,333 of which are subject to forfeiture to the extent the
over-allotment option is not exercised in full) (the “Escrow Shares”), in escrow
as hereinafter provided;

      


      WHEREAS,
the Company has entered into an amended and restated Warrant Subscription
Agreement with Holdings and the Underwriter Warrantholders (collectively, the
“Initial Warrantholders”), dated May 13, 2010 (the “Subscription Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Initial Warrantholders have agreed to purchase 3,700,000
warrants (the “Private Warrants”) in a private placement
transaction;

      


      WHEREAS,
the Initial Warrantholders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Private
Warrants to deposit all of their respective Private Warrants (together with the
Escrow Shares, the “Escrow Securities”), as set forth opposite their respective
names on Exhibit A attached hereto, with the Escrow Agent as hereinafter
provided; and

      


      WHEREAS,
the Company and the Initial Stockholder and Initial Warrantholders desire that
the Escrow Agent accept the Escrow Securities, in escrow, to be held and
disbursed as hereinafter provided.

       

      
        
           

        

        
           

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      IT IS
AGREED:

      


      1.  Appointment of Escrow
Agent. The Company, the Initial Stockholder and Initial Warrantholders
hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the
terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and
agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.

      


      2.   Deposit of Escrow
Securities. On or before the Effective Date, the Initial Stockholder and
Initial Warrantholders shall deliver to the Escrow Agent certificates
representing their respective Escrow Securities, in proper transfer order with
Medallion guaranteed stock powers, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement. The Initial Stockholder and Initial
Warrantholders acknowledge and agree that the certificates representing the
Escrow Securities will bear a legend to reflect the deposit of such Escrow
Securities under this Agreement.

       

      3.   Disbursement of the Escrow
Securities.  The Escrow Agent shall hold each of the Escrow
Shares and the Private Warrants until the termination of their respective Escrow
Period (as defined below). In the case of the Escrow Shares, the “Escrow Period”
shall be the period beginning on the date the certificates representing the
Shares are deposited with the Escrow Agent and ending on the date that is one
year following the consummation of the initial Business Transaction (as such
term is defined in the Registration Statement) or earlier if, subsequent to the
Business Transaction the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger,
stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company
stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash,
securities or other property.  In the case of the Private Warrants,
the “Escrow Period” shall be the period beginning on the date the certificates
representing the Private Warrants are deposited with the Escrow Agent and ending
30 days following the date of the consummation of the initial Business
Transaction. On the termination date of the applicable Escrow Period, the Escrow
Agent shall, upon written instructions from the Company, disburse the Escrow
Securities to such holders; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is
notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is (i)
being liquidated at any time during the Escrow Period, or (ii) that up to 83,333
of the Escrow Shares have been forfeited, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly
destroy the certificates representing such Escrow Securities (or portion
thereof, as applicable).  The Escrow Agent shall have no further
duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Securities
in accordance with this Section 3.

      


      4.   Rights of Initial Holder in
Escrow Securities.

      


      4.1.  Voting Rights as a
Stockholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letter described in
Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Initial Stockholder shall
retain all of its rights as a stockholder of the Company during the Escrow
Period, including, without limitation, the right to vote the Escrow
Shares.

      


      4.2.  Dividends and Other
Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Securities. During the Escrow
Period, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Securities
shall be paid to the Initial Stockholder, but all dividends payable in stock or
other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow
Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term
“Escrow Securities” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends
distributed thereon, if any.

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      4.3.  Restrictions
on Transfer.  During the
Escrow Period, no sale, transfer or other disposition may be made of any or all
of the Escrow Securities except (i) upon the dissolution and
liquidation of holder and the distribution of assets to its members; (ii) by
gift to an immediate family member of any Initial Stockholder or the Initial
Warrantholders members or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is an immediate
family member of such Initial Stockholder or a member of the immediate family of
the Initial Warrantholders’ members, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and
distribution upon death of any Initial Stockholder or any member of an Initial
Warrantholder, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order,
(v) in the
event of the Company’s liquidation prior to completion of its initial Business
Transaction or (vi) in the event of the Company’s consummation 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 Company’s consummation
of an initial Business Transaction; provided, however, that such
permissive transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s
written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
of the Insider Letter signed by the Initial Stockholder that is transferring the
Escrow Shares. Even if transferred in accordance with this Section 4.3, the
Escrow Securities will remain subject to this agreement and may be released from
escrow only in accordance with Section 3 hereof.  During the Escrow
Period, the Initial Stockholder shall not pledge or grant a security interest in
the Escrow Securities or grant a security interest in its rights under this
Agreement.

      


      4.4.  Insider Letters. The
Initial Stockholder has executed a letter agreement with the Representative and the Company, dated as of
the Effective Date, and which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement (each an “Insider Letter”), respecting the rights and obligations of
such Initial Stockholder in certain events, including, but not limited to, the
liquidation of the Company.

      


      5.  Concerning the Escrow
Agent.

      


      5.1.  Good Faith Reliance.
The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in
good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and may rely
conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand,
certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the
Escrow Agent, which counsel may be company 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 is believed by the
Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or
persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any
waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless
evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party
or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless
it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      5.2.  Indemnification. The
Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and
against any expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or
loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action taken by it
hereunder, action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any
way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the
services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Securities held by it
hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow
Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit
or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in
writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its
sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an
appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Securities
or it may deposit the Escrow Securities with the clerk of any appropriate court
or it may retain the Escrow Securities pending receipt of a final, non
appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto
directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Securities are to be
disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive in the
event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 5.5 or 5.6
below.

      


      5.3.  Compensation. The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Company for
all services rendered by it hereunder, as set forth on Exhibit B hereto. The
Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all
expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder
including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and
disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.

      


      5.4.  Further Assurances.
From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Initial
Stockholder shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such
further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further
acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively
the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith
or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.

      
 

      5.5.  Resignation. The
Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow
agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such
resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation
shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over to a
successor escrow agent appointed by the Company and approved by the Representative, which approval will not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, the Escrow Securities held
hereunder. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60 day period
following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit
the Escrow Securities with any court it reasonably deems
appropriate.

      


      5.6.  Discharge of Escrow
Agent. The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as
escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by the other
parties hereto, jointly, provided, however, that such resignation shall become
effective only upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as
provided in Section 5.5.

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      5.7.  Liability.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be
relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own
willful misconduct.

      


      6.  Miscellaneous.

      


      6.1.  Governing Law. This
Agreement shall for all purposes be deemed to be made under and shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each of the
parties 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 personal
jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each of the parties hereby
waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts
represent an inconvenient forum.

      


      6.2.  Entire Agreement.
This Agreement and the Insider Letters contain the entire agreement of the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as
expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an
instrument in writing signed by the party to the charged.  In
connection with any proposed amendment, the Escrow Agent may request an opinion
of issuer’s counsel as to the validity of the proposed amendment as a condition
to its execution of said amendment. 

      


      6.3.  Headings. The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.

      


      6.4.  Binding Effect. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective
parties hereto and their legal representative, successors and
assigns.

      
 

      6.5.  Notices. Any notice
or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in
writing and either be delivered personally or by private national courier
service, or be mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or, if
sent by private national courier service, on the next business day after
delivery to the courier, or, if mailed, two business days after the date of
mailing, as follows:

      


      if to the
Escrow Agent, to:

      


      Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company

      17
Battery Place

      New York,
NY 10004

      Attn:
[        ]

      Fax No.:
[           ]

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      if to the
Company, to:

      


      57th
Street General Acquisition Corp.

      590
Madison Avenue, 35th
Floor

      New York,
NY 10022

      Attn:
Mark D. Klein

      Fax No.:
[              ]

      


      and a
copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

      


      Ellenoff,
Grossman & Schole LLP

      150 East
42nd
Street, 11th
Floor

      New York,
New York 10017

      Attn:
Douglas Ellenoff, Esq.

      Fax No.:
(212) 370-7889

      


      if to any
Initial Stockholder or Initial Warrantholders, to the address set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.

      


      if the to
the representative of the underwriters, to:

      


      Morgan
Joseph & Co. Inc.,

      Morgan
Joseph & Co. Inc.

      600 Fifth
Avenue, 19th
Floor

      New York,
NY 10020

      Attn:
Tina Pappas

      Fax No.:
(212) 218-3760

      


      with a
copy, to:

      


      McDermott
Will & Emery LLP

      340
Madison Avenue

      New York,
New York 10173

      Attn:
Joel L. Rubinstein, Esq.

      Fax No.:
(212) 547-5444

      


      The
parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other
communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the
manner provided herein for giving notice.

      


      6.6.  Liquidation of Company;
Forfeiture. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent prompt written
notification of (i) the liquidation of the Company or (ii) forfeiture of up to
83,333 Escrow Shares held by 57th Street GAC Holdings LLC to the extent the
underwriters over-allotment option is not exercised in full, as further
described in the Registration Statement.

      


      6.7.  Trust Account Waiver.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent hereby waives
any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any
distribution of the trust account (the “Trust Account”) in which the proceeds of
the initial public offering conducted by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus
(the “IPO”) and the proceeds of the sale of the Private Warrants will be
deposited and held for the benefit of the holders of the securities purchased in
the IPO, as described in greater detail in the Prospectus, and hereby agrees not
to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against
the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      6.8.  Third Party
Beneficiaries. The Initial Stockholder hereby acknowledges that the
Underwriters, including, without limitation, the Representative, are third party
beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement cannot be modified or changed
without the prior written consent of the Representative.

      


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

      


      [remainder
of page intentionally left blank]

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the execution of this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

      
 

      
        	 
      	
                57TH
      STREET GENERAL ACQUISITION CORP.

              
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:  
      

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                CONTINENTAL
      STOCK TRANSFER

              	 
      
	 
      	
                  &
      TRUST COMPANY

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                57TH
      STREET GAC HOLDINGS LLC

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:
      Mark D. Klein

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:
      A Managing Member

              	 
      


      

      


      
        
           

        

        
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                UNDERWRITER
      WARRANTHOLDERS:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                MORGAN
      JOSEPH & CO. INC.

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:  

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                LADENBURG
      THALMANN & CO. INC.

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                I-BANKERS
      SECURITIES, INC.

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                RODMAN
      & RENSHAW, LLC

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                MAXIM
      GROUP LLC

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                By:

              	
                 

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Name:

              	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                Title:

              	 
      


      

      


      
        
           

        

        
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      EXHIBIT
A


     

    
      57th
Street GAC Holdings LLC

      590
Madison Avenue, 35th
Floor

      New York,
NY 10022

      Attn:

      Facsimile
Number:

      EIN:
27-1215274

      Number of
Shares: 638,889 (up to 83,333) of which are subject to forfeiture in the event
the underwriters over-allotment option is not exercised in full)

      Number of
Warrants: 3,500,000

       

      Morgan
Joseph & Co. Inc.

      600 Fifth
Avenue, 19th
Floor

      New York,
NY 10020

      Attn:
Tina Pappas

      Fax No.:
(212) 218-3760

      Number of
Warrants: [________]

       

      Ladenburg
Thalmann & Co. Inc.

      153 East
53rd Street, 49th Floor

      New York,
NY  10022

      Attn:
Steven Kaplan

      Fax No.:
(212) 409-2169

      Number of
Warrants: [________]

       

      I-Bankers
Securities Incorporated

      810
Seventh Avenue, 11th Floor

      New York,
NY  10019

      Attn:
Robert E. Parker III

      Fax No.:
(212) 419-3895

      Number of
Warrants: [________]

       

      Maxim
Group LLC

      405
Lexington Avenue

      New York,
NY 10174

      Attn:
Paul G. LaRosa

      Fax No.:
(212) 895-3762

      Number of
Warrants: [________]

       

      Rodman
& Renshaw, LLC

      1251
Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor

      New York,
NY 10020

      Attn:
Ramnarain Jaigobind

      Fax No.:
212-581-5690

      Number of
Warrants: [________]

       

      
        
           

        

        
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      EXHIBIT
B

      


      Escrow
Agent Fees

      


      $______
annually for acting agent escrow fee.

      


      First
year agent fee to be paid at closing.

       

      
        
           

        

        
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