Exhibit 10.1


 





EXECUTION VERSION




 





February 13, 2020


 


Churchill Capital Corp III

640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10019


 


(212) 380-7500


 


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”) to be
entered into by and among Churchill Capital Corp III, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Citigroup Global
Markets Inc. (the “Representative”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public
Offering”), of 110,000,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 10,000,000 units that may be purchased to cover
over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole Warrant
(each, a “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 will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and
prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
and the Company has applied to have the Units listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Certain capitalized terms used herein are
defined in paragraph 11 hereof.


 


In order to induce the Company and the Representative
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, Churchill Sponsor III LLC (the “Sponsor”) and
each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team
(each, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby severally (and not jointly
and severally) agrees with the Company as follows:


 














1.            
The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then
in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him
or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in
connection with such stockholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a
tender offer, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not sell or tender any shares of Capital Stock owned
by it, him or her in connection therewith.


 






     


     


    

 


2.            
The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination
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 “Charter”), the Sponsor
and each Insider 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, subject to lawfully available funds
therefor, 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 (net
of amounts withdrawn to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $1,000,000, and/or
to pay the Company’s taxes (“Permitted Withdrawals”)) and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution
expenses)), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’
rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating 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 each Insider agree to
not propose any amendment to the Charter that would modify 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 the required time period set forth in
the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination
activity, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares 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 (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.


 


The Sponsor and each Insider 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 as a result
of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby
further waive, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by it, him or her, if any, 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 Common Stock (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption
and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination
within the time period set forth in the Charter or in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter
to modify 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 the time period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions
relating to stockholders' rights or pre-initial business combination activity).


 






    2


     


    

 


3.            
During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the
Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (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 (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Capital Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible
into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, (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 Capital Stock,
Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her,
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). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and
agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 3 or paragraph
7 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two
business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any such release or waiver granted shall only be effective two
business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release
or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of securities without consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing
to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect
at the time of the transfer.


 


4.            
In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend
to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor or any other Insider) 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) any prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a letter
of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement for a Business Combination (a “Target”); provided,
however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure
that such claims by a third party or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i)
$10.00 per Offering Share or (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation
of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of
the trust assets less Permitted Withdrawals, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party (including a Target) that executed
a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall
not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Representative against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Sponsor 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 Sponsor,
the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Company’s
officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors
and prospective target businesses.


 






    3


     


    

 


5.            
To the extent that the Representative does not exercise its over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 10,000,000
Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit,
at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to the product of 2,500,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator
of which is 10,000,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Representative upon the exercise of its over-allotment option,
and (ii) the denominator of which is 10,000,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is
not exercised in full by the Representative so that the Initial Stockholders will own an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s
issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock after the Public Offering. To the extent that the size of the Public Offering is
increased or decreased, the Company will effect a capitalization or share repurchase, redemption or stock split or other appropriate
mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership
of the Capital Stock of the Initial Stockholders prior to the Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding
Capital Stock upon the consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public
Offering, (A) references to 10,000,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph
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 1,500,000 in the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number of Founder
Shares that the Sponsor would have to return to the Company in order to hold (with all of the Initial Stockholders) an aggregate
of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Capital Stock after the Public Offering.


 


6.            
(a)           The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the Representative and the Company would be
irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 7(a), 7(b), and 9, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement (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)          The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it or he shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business
Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00
per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days
within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the
date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction
that 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 “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”).


 






    4


     


    

 


(b)          
The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants (or shares of Common
Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) until 30 days after the completion of a Business
Combination (the “Private Placement Warrants Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period,
the “Lock-up Periods”).


 


(c)           
Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 3 and 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement
Warrants and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the
Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this
paragraph 7(c)), are permitted (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 any affiliates of the Sponsor; (b) in the case of an individual,
transfers 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,
transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, transfers
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) transfers 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) transfers
in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; (g) transfers by virtue
of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor;
(h) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction
which results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock
for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the initial business combination; (i) to a nominee or custodian
of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (h) above; provided,
however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) and (i), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement
with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement
(including provisions relating to voting, the Trust Account and liquidating distributions).


 


8.            
The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never 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. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in
the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s
background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The
Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she 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; it, he or she 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 it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.


 






    5


     


    

 


9.            
Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider,
nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company 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, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion
of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances of up to $600,000 made to the Company by the Sponsors to
cover expenses related to the organization of the Company and the Public Offering; payment to M. Klein and Company or another affiliate
of the Sponsor for customary financial advisory fee; payment to M. Klein Associates, Inc. for office space and related support
services for a total of $50,000 per month; reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying,
investigating and consummating an initial 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 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. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be
convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender.
Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise
period.


 


10.          
The Sponsor and each Insider 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, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby
consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.


 


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) “Capital
Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Common Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall
mean the 27,500,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (or 25,000,000 shares if the
over-allotment option is not exercised by the Representative) initially held by the Sponsor; (iv) “Initial Stockholders”
shall mean the Sponsor and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (v) “Private Placement
Warrants” shall mean the warrants to purchase up to 21,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (or 23,000,000 shares
of Common Stock if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase
price of $21,000,000 in the aggregate (or $23,000,000 if the 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; (vi) “Public Stockholders”
shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust
fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited;
and (viii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment 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 Exchange Act 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).


 






    6


     


    

 


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.           
Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 parties. 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 and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted
transferees.


 


14.           
Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties
hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise
or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and
permitted transferees.


 






    7


     


    

 


15.           
This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile 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.


 


16.          
This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore,
in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of
this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid
and enforceable.


 


17.          
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 submit
to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive
jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.


 


18.          
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.


 


19.          
This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods 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 March 31, 2021; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter
Agreement shall survive such liquidation for a period of six years.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 



    8


     


    




 





	 	Sincerely,
	 	 
	 	CHURCHILL SPONSOR III LLC
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Lee Jay Taragin
	 	 	Name: Lee Jay Taragin
	 	 	Title:   Authorized Person







 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]







 



    


     


    










 






	 	By:	/s/ Michael Klein
	 	 	Name: Michael Klein







 





[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]







 



    


     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Lee Jay Taragin
	 	 	Name: Lee Jay Taragin



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Jeremy Paul Abson
	 	 	Name: Jeremy Paul Abson



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Glenn R. August
	 	 	Name: Glenn R. August



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Mark Klein
	 	 	Name: Mark Klein



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Malcolm S. McDermid
	 	 	Name: Malcolm S. McDermid



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 





	 	By:	/s/ Karen G. Mills
	 	 	Name: Karen G. Mills



 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


 






     

     


    

 


Acknowledged and Agreed:


 


CHURCHILL CAPITAL CORP III


 


 





	By:	/s/ Lee Jay Taragin	 
	 	Name: Lee Jay Taragin	 
	 	Title: Chief Financial Officer	 













 


[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]