Exhibit
10.1


 


FORM
OF INSIDER LETTER AGREEMENT


 


____________ __, 2015


 


Electrum Special Acquisition Corporation

c/o The Electrum Group LLC


700 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10065


 


Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022


 


Re: Initial Public Offering:


 


This letter (“Letter Agreement”)
is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”)
entered into by and between Electrum Special Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”),
and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as representative (the “Representative”) of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering
(the “IPO”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each comprised of one
ordinary share of the Company, no par value (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one warrant (“Warrant”)
to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share at a price of $5.75 per half share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in
the IPO pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus
(the “Prospectus”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
as described in the Company’s final prospectus (the “Prospectus”). Certain capitalized terms used
herein are defined in paragraph 15 hereof.


 


In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters
to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer
upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:


 


1.          If
the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all Ordinary Shares beneficially
owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.


 


2.          (a)
In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, the undersigned
shall take all reasonable steps to (i) cause the Company to cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as possible, but no more than ten business days after the expiration of such period, cause the Trust Fund, including interest
(which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) to be liquidated
and distributed to the holders of IPO Shares and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to
the approval of the Company’s remaining holders of Ordinary Shares and the Board of Directors, cause the Company to dissolve
and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Company’s obligations to provide for claims of creditors
and the requirements of other applicable laws.


 


(b)
The undersigned hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust
Fund and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to his, her or its Insider
Shares or [Private Warrants (and the underlying Ordinary Shares)]1
(“Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim the undersigned may have in the future as a result of, or
arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason
whatsoever. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Fund with respect to
any Private Warrants, which will terminate upon the Company’s liquidation.


 


 






1 To be included in the ESAC Holdings LLC/Electrum
Special Opportunities Fund L.P. and Ospraie Partners LLC Letters only.


 




    	 



    	 



    

  


3.           To
the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 2,250,000 Units (as described
in the Prospectus), the undersigned agrees that it shall return to the Company, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the percentage
of Insider Shares held by him, her or it, for cancellation at no cost, a number of Insider Shares equal to [___] multiplied by
a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,250,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise
of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,250,000.  The undersigned further agrees that
to the extent that (a) the size of the IPO is increased or decreased and (b) the undersigned has either purchased or
sold Ordinary Shares or an adjustment to the number of Insider Shares has been effected by way of a share split, share dividend,
reverse share split, contribution back to capital or otherwise, in each case in connection with such increase or decrease in the
size of the IPO, then (A) the references to 2,250,000 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 Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the IPO
and (B) the reference to [___] in the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number
of Ordinary Shares that the undersigned and the Insiders would have to collectively return to the Company in order to hold an
aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the IPO.


 


4.          (a)
The undersigned agrees that he, she or it shall not effectuate a Transfer of the Insider Shares until the earlier to occur of (i)
one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) 150 days after the Business Combination, the closing
price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends,
reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period (the “Lock-up”).


 


(b)          Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Lock-up restrictions will be removed earlier if, after a Business Combination, the Company consummate a subsequent
(i) liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having
the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property or (ii) consolidation, merger or other change
in the majority of the Company’s management team.


 


(c)          [The
undersigned agrees that he, she or it shall not effectuate a Transfer of the Private Warrants or the Ordinary Shares underlying
such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination and as further subject to the transfer restrictions
described in the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement relating to the Private Warrants.]2


 


(d)          Notwithstanding
the provisions set forth in this paragraph 4, Transfers of the Insider Shares, [Private Warrants (and the underlying Ordinary Shares)
are permitted to (i) amongst other holders of Insider Shares, to the Company’s officers, directors and employees or to the
undersigned’s officers, directors, members, employees and affiliates, (ii) to the undersigned’s relatives and trusts
for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s
securities, (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the
price at which the securities were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with
the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case (except for clause vii) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the
Lock-up, but will retain all other rights as the Company’s shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote
his, her or its Ordinary Shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in
Ordinary Shares, such dividends will also be subject to the Lock-up.


 


5.          In
order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the undersigned agrees to present
to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire
a target business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company,
subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations the undersigned might have.


 





 






2 To be included in the ESAC Holdings LLC/Electrum
Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P. and Ospraie Partners LLC Letters only.


 




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6.          The
undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated
with the undersigned or any Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, including any company that is a portfolio company of,
or otherwise affiliated with, or has received financial investment from, an entity with which the undersigned or any Insider or
their affiliates is affiliated, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested independent
directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that such Business Combination is
fair to the Company’s unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.


 


7.          Neither
the undersigned, nor any family member of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and
will not accept any compensation or other cash payment for services rendered prior to, or in connection with the consummation of
the Business Combination; [provided, that the Company shall be allowed to (i) repay a non-interest bearing loan in
an aggregate amount of up to $200,000 made to the Company by The Electrum Group LLC, an affiliate of the undersigned, to cover
the IPO expenses and (ii) pay $10,000 per month to The Electrum Group LLC, for office space and related services; provided,
further, that the Company shall be allowed to repay working capital loans made by the undersigned or its affiliates to the
Company in cash upon consummation of the Business Combination or, at the undersigned’s or its affiliates’ discretion,
with respect to up to an aggregate of $1,000,000 of working capital loans from all lenders, by converting such loans into additional
Private Warrants at a price of $0.50 per Private Warrant, as more fully described in the Registration Statement.]3
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned and any affiliates of the undersigned shall be entitled to reimbursement from the
Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and consummating a Business Combination.


 


8.          Neither
the undersigned, nor any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned, will be entitled to receive
or accept a finder’s fee or any other compensation in the event the undersigned, or any member of the family of the undersigned
or any affiliate of the undersigned originates a Business Combination.


 


9.          The
undersigned agrees to be the ______ of the Company until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination
or the liquidation of the Company. The undersigned’s biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the
Representative is true and accurate in all material respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned’s
biography and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). Each undersigned’s Director and Officer General
Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all material respects. The undersigned represents and
warrants that:


 


		(a)	he, she or it has never had a petition under the federal
bankruptcy laws or any state or foreign insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him, her or it or any partnership in which
he, she or it was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) any corporation or business association
of which he, she or it was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;



 


		(b)	he, she or it has never had a receiver, fiscal agent or
similar officer been appointed by a court for his, her or its business or property, or any such partnership;



 


		(c)	he, she or it has never been convicted of fraud in a civil
or criminal proceeding;



 


		(d)	he, she or it has never been convicted in a criminal proceeding
or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses);



 


		(e)	he, she or it has never been the subject of any order,
judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily
enjoining or otherwise limiting him/her/it from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading
advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser,
underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank,
savings and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with
any such activity; or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the
purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities
laws;



 





 






3To be included in the ESAC Holdings LLC/Electrum
Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P. Letter only.


 




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		(f)	he, she or it has never been the subject of any order,
judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or
otherwise limiting for more than 60 days his, her or its right to engage in any activity described in paragraph 9(e)(i) above,
or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;



 


		(g)	he, she or it has never been found by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state, or foreign securities law, where the judgment
in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;



 


		(h)	he, she or it has never been found by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment in such civil action
or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;



 


		(i)	he, she or it has never been the subject of, or a party
to, any federal, state or foreign judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended
or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any federal, state or foreign securities or commodities law or regulation,
(ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary
or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist
order, or removal or prohibition order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection
with any business entity;



 


		(j)	he, she or it has never been the subject of, or party to,
any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity,
or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated
with a member;



 


		(k)	he, she or it has never been convicted of any felony or
misdemeanor: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the
SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer,
investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;



 


		(l)	he, she or it was never subject to a final order of a state
or foreign securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state or foreign authority
that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state or foreign insurance commission (or an agency
or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal or foreign banking agency; the CFTC; or the National
Credit Union Administration that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or
deceptive conduct;



 


		(m)	he, she or it has never been subject to any order, judgment
or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of such sale, restrained or enjoined him, her or it from engaging
or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving
the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer,
municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;



 


		(n)	he, she or it has never been subject to any order of the
SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions that orders him, her or it to cease and desist from committing or
causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based anti-fraud provision of the foreign or federal securities laws, including,
but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder,
and Section 206(1) of the Advisers Act or any other rule or regulation thereunder; or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act;



 




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		(o)	he, she or it has never been named as an underwriter in
any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar
function that was the subject of a refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently,
the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued;



 


		(p)	he, she or it has never been subject to a United States
Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction
with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property
through the mail by means of false representations;



 


		(q)	he, she or it is not subject to a final order of a state
securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines
banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like
functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that bars the Insider
from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer; (ii) engaging in the business
of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities;



 


		(r)	he, she or it is not subject to an order of the SEC entered
pursuant to section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or section
203(e) or 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) that: (i) suspends or revokes
the undersigned’s registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) places limitations
on the activities, functions or operations of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person; or (iii) bars the Insider from
being associated with any entity or from participating in the offering of any penny stock; and



 


		(s)	he, she or it has never been suspended or expelled from
membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization (e.g., a registered
national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission to act constituting
conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.



 


10.         The
undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound (including, without limitation,
any non-competition or non-solicitation with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and to serve
and hold the current position/title of the Company, as applicable.


 


11.         The
undersigned hereby waives his, her or its right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any Ordinary Shares owned or to be
owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly, whether purchased prior to the IPO, in the IPO or in the aftermarket, and agrees
that he, she or it will not seek redemption with respect to or otherwise sell such shares to the Company in connection with any
Business Combination.


 


12.         The
undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles of Association with
respect to pre Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination that would affect the substance
or timing of the Company’s obligations to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete a Business
Combination with 24 months of the closing of the IPO, unless the Company provides dissenting holders of IPO Ordinary Shares with
the opportunity to redeem their IPO Shares in connection with any such vote.


 




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13.         [In
the event of the liquidation of the Trust Fund, Electrum Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P (the “Indemnitor”),
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claims, 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) a prospective target business with which the Company has had discussions or entered into an acquisition agreement
(a “Target”) or (ii) any vendor or other person who is owed money by the Company for services rendered
or products sold to, or contracted for, the Company, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Fund; provided, that such indemnity shall not apply if
such Target, vendor or other person has executed an agreement waiving any claims against the Trust Fund and all rights to seek
access to the Trust Fund whether or not such agreement is enforceable. In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed 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, as amended. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining
net assets are insufficient to complete such liquidation, Indemnitor agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation
and agrees not to seek repayment for such expenses.]4


 


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.         As
used herein, (i) a “Business Combination” shall mean a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation,
purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar
business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Memorandum and Articles of Association”
shall mean the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same shall be amended from time
to time; (iii) “Insiders” shall mean all officers, directors and shareholders of the Company immediately
prior to the IPO; (iv) “Insider Shares” shall mean all of the Ordinary Shares of Common Stock of the
Company acquired by the undersigned prior to the consummation of the IPO; (v) “IPO Shares” shall mean
the shares of Common Stock issued in the Company’s IPO; (vi) “Private Warrants” shall mean the
warrants purchased in the private placement taking place simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s IPO and the
over-allotment option, if any; (vii) “Trust Fund” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the
net proceeds of the Company’s IPO will be deposited; and (viii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale
of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant 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, amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to 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) and (b).


 


16.         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.


 


17.         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 17 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 parties hereto and any successors and assigns thereof.


 


18.         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 IPO is not consummated and closed by October
31, 2015, provided further that paragraph 13 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.


 





 






4 To be included in the ESAC Holdings LLC/Electrum
Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P. Letter only.


 




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19.         The
undersigned acknowledge and understand that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and
warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 


 




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	 	 	 	Sincerely,
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	Print Name of Insider
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	Signature
	 	 	 	 
	Acknowledged and Agreed:	 
	 	 	 
	 	ELECTRUM SPECIAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	 	 
	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	Title:	 
	 	 	 	 


 




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