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EXHIBIT 10.17    
    

 
  [FORM OF LETTER AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BY
  AND BETWEEN WEDBUSH MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
  AND EACH OF THE INITIAL STOCKHOLDERS]    

            ,
2005 

WEDBUSH MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

        As representative of the several Underwriters
  1000 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017 

	Re:
	MDC
Acquisition Partners Inc. Initial Public Offering—Lock-up Agreement 

Dear
Ladies and Gentlemen: 

        This
letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") entered into by and between MDC Acquisition Partners Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., 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 share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share (the "Common Stock"), and one warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock (a "Warrant"). The capitalized terms set forth on Schedule I attached hereto are hereby incorporated by
reference herein. 

        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 stockholder 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
Representative that the undersigned will not publicly announce any intention to, will not authorize any affiliate or subsidiary, if applicable, to, and will not, without the prior written consent of
the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, by contract, option, right or otherwise, any Insider Shares
beneficially owned by the undersigned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or lend, grant or otherwise transfer or dispose of any
such Insider Shares, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic characteristics of ownership of such Insider Shares (whether any
such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of such Insider Shares, in cash or otherwise), during the Lock-Up Period. 

        Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the undersigned may (i) transfer Insider Shares either during such person's lifetime or, on death, by bona fide gifts, will or intestacy to members
of the undersigned's Immediate Family or to trusts exclusively for the benefit of members of the undersigned's Immediate Family, (ii) transfer Insider Shares pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order, [or](1)
(iii) transfer record ownership of the Insider Shares whereby there is no change in beneficial ownership [or (iv) transfer Insider Shares to the Escrow Agent or to the
Company in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement](2);
provided that prior to any such transfer, such transferee executes an agreement, satisfactory to the Representative, pursuant to which such transferee agrees to receive and hold such Insider Shares
subject to the provisions hereof. 

	(1)
	Bracketed
text included only in the agreement with MDC Asset Management Partners, LLC.

	(2)
	Bracketed
text not included in the agreement with MDC Asset Management Partners, LLC. 

        The
undersigned agrees that during the Lock-Up Period the certificates representing such Insider Shares owned by the undersigned shall bear the legends set forth on
Exhibit A attached hereto. 

        The
undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. The undersigned agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the transfer of Insider Shares except in compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter
agreement. 

        This
letter agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and such person's respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns. This letter agreement shall terminate on
the Lock-Up Period Termination Date. 

        This
letter agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely
within the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction. 

        No
term or provision of this letter agreement may be amended, changed, waived, altered or modified except by written instrument executed and delivered by the party against whom such
amendment, change, waiver, alteration or modification is to be enforced. 

	 	 	Sincerely,
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	Title:	 

 
 

SCHEDULE I
  SUPPLEMENTAL COMMON DEFINITIONS    
    

Unless the context shall otherwise require, the following terms shall have the following respective meaning for all purposes, and the following definitions are equally
applicable to both the singular and the plural forms and the feminine, masculine and neuter forms of the terms defined.

"Business
Combination" shall mean the acquisition by the Company, whether by merger, capital stock exchange, asset or stock acquisition, or other similar type of transaction or a combination of any of
the foregoing, of one or more operating businesses collectively having a fair market value (as calculated in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation) of at least 80% of the Company's net assets at the time of such acquisition; provided,  however, that any acquisition of
multiple operating businesses shall occur simultaneously with one another. 

"Business
Combination Date" shall mean the date upon which a Business Combination is consummated. 

"Effective
Date" shall mean the date upon which the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by the SEC. 

"Escrow
Agent" shall mean the Secretary of the Company or the Secretary's designee, as escrow agent under the Stock Purchase Agreement. 

"Immediate
Family" shall mean, with respect to any person, such person's spouse, lineal descendents, father, mother, brothers or sisters (including any such relatives by adoption or marriage). 

"Insiders"
shall mean all of the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Company's IPO. 

"Insider
Shares" shall mean all shares of Common Stock of the Company owned by an Insider immediately prior to the Company's IPO. For the avoidance of doubt, Insider Shares shall not include any IPO
Shares purchased by such Insider in connection with or subsequent to the Company's IPO. 

"IPO
Shares" shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in its IPO, regardless of whether such shares were issued to an Insider or otherwise. 

"Lock-Up
Period" shall mean the period commencing on (inclusive of such date) the closing of the IPO and delivery of the IPO Shares in connection therewith and ending on the earlier of
(i) the date that is six months immediately following the Business Combination Date, or (ii) the Termination Date. 

"Lock-Up
Period Termination Date" shall mean the close of business on the last day of the Lock-Up Period. 

"Registration
Statement" shall mean the registration statement filed by the Company on Form S-1 (No. 333-126379) with the SEC on July 5, 2005, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, in connection with the Company's IPO. 

"SEC"
shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 

"Stock
Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Founder Stock Purchase Agreement dated June    , 2005, by and between the Company
and                        . 

"Termination
Date" shall mean the date that is sixty (60) calendar days immediately following the Transaction Failure Date (inclusive thereof). 

"Transaction
Failure" shall mean the earlier of (i) the failure to enter into a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement with respect to a Business Combination on any
day during the eighteen-month period immediately following the Effective Date, and (ii) the failure to consummate a Business Combination on any day during the
twenty-four-month period immediately following the Effective Date. 

"Transaction
Failure Date" shall mean the date upon which a Transaction Failure occurs. 

 
 

EXHIBIT A    
    
    LOCK-UP LEGENDS    

THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. 

THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF NOT TO SELL SUCH SHARES UNTIL THE EARLIER OF 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF A BUSINESS COMBINATION OR
THE LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY, UNLESS AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IS PROVIDED SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH EARLIER SALE IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE AFOREMENTIONED AGREEMENT. 

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EXHIBIT 10.17

[FORM OF LETTER AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN WEDBUSH MORGAN SECURITIES INC. AND EACH OF THE INITIAL STOCKHOLDERS]

SCHEDULE I SUPPLEMENTAL COMMON DEFINITIONS

EXHIBIT A LOCK-UP LEGENDSQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.21    
    

                        ,
2005 

WEDBUSH
MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

1000 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017 

	RE:
	MDC
ACQUISITION PARTNERS INC. 

Gentlemen:

        This
letter is being delivered to you in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-126379) (as amended and supplemented
from time to time, the "Registration Statement") that was initially filed by MDC Acquisition Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on July 5, 2005, which
relates to an underwritten initial public offering (the "IPO") of the Company's units (the "Units"),
each comprised of one share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and one warrant exercisable for one share
of Common Stock (a "Warrant"). 

        Capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth on Schedule 1 hereto. 

        In
order to induce the Company to engage in the IPO and to take all steps necessary to effect the IPO, including the filing of amendments to the Registration Statement with the SEC, and
in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees as follows: 

        (1)   At
least six (6) business days prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the undersigned shall duly execute and deliver an irrevocable order to
purchase Warrants to the representative of the underwriters identified in the Registration Statement (the "Order"), in the form attached hereto as
Schedule 1, with such terms and conditions as are consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement at the time it goes effective and the terms and conditions set
forth herein. 

        (2)   The
undersigned, together with its affiliates or designees, shall collectively, within the forty-five (45) trading day period, commencing on the date
separate trading of the Warrants commences (the "Separation Date") pursuant to provisions set forth in the warrant agreement governing the terms and
conditions of such Warrants (the "Warrant Agreement"), purchase for the undersigned's own account up to 500,000 Warrants at market prices not to exceed
$1.20 per Warrant. 

        (3)   The
undersigned, together with its affiliates or designees, shall not offer, pledge, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, either directly or indirectly, any Warrants
purchased pursuant to this letter agreement or the Order until after the date of a Business Combination (the "Business Combination Date"); provided that
any such warrants may be distributed to the members of the undersigned (and may subsequently be transferred by such members to their ancestors, descendants or spouse or to trust for the benefit of
such persons or the member); provided that in each case the transferee agrees to the restrictions upon transfer set forth herein. A "Business
Combination" shall mean the acquisition by the Company, whether by merger, capital stock exchange, asset or stock acquisition or other similar type of transaction or a
combination of any of the foregoing, of one or more operating businesses collectively having a fair market value (as calculated in accordance with requirements set forth in the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of at least 80% of the Company's net assets at the time of such acquisition provided, however, that any
acquisition of multiple operating businesses shall occur contemporaneously with one another. 

        This
letter agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and its successors and assigns. 

        This
letter agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely
within the 

 

State
of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. 

        No
term or provision of this letter agreement may be amended, changed, waived, altered or modified except by written instrument executed and delivered by the party against whom such
amendment, change, waiver, alteration or modification is to be enforced. 

	 	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	

 	
 	

MDC Asset Management Partners, LLC
	

 	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	 	By:	 
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	Title:	 
	 	 	 	 	

	

Accepted and agreed as of the date hereof:	
 	

 	

 
	

WEDBUSH MORGAN SECURITIES INC.	
 	

 	

 
	

By:	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	
 Name:

Title:	 	 	 

2

 
 

Schedule 1    
    

                        ,
2005 

Wedbush
Morgan Securities

1000 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017 

	RE:
	MDC
ACQUISITION PARTNERS INC. 

Gentlemen:

        This
letter will confirm the agreement of the undersigned to purchase (the "Purchase Commitment") warrants (the
"Warrants") of MDC Acquisition Partners Inc. (the "Company") that are included in the units (the
"Units") being sold in the Company's initial public offering ("IPO") pursuant to the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-126379) (as may be
amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Registration Statement"). The Purchase Commitment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein. 

        The
undersigned agrees that this letter agreement constitutes an irrevocable order (the "Order") for the representative of the
Underwriters identified in the Registration Statement (the "Representative") to purchase for the undersigned's account, within the
forty-five (45) trading days commencing on the date separate trading of the Warrants commences (the "Separation Date") pursuant to
provisions set forth in the warrant agreement governing the terms and conditions of such Warrants (the "Warrant Agreement"), up to 500,000 Warrants at
market prices per Warrant not to exceed $1.20 per Warrant (the "Maximum Warrant Purchase"). The Representative (or such other broker dealer(s) as the
Representative may assign the order to) agrees to fill such order in such amounts and at such times as it may determine, in its sole discretion, during the forty-five (45) trading
days commencing on the Separation Date. 

        The
Representative further agrees that it will not charge the undersigned or any Designee (as defined below) any fees and/or commissions with respect to such purchase obligation. The
undersigned may
notify the Representative that all or part of the Order will be fulfilled by an affiliate of the undersigned (or another person or entity identified to the Representative by the undersigned (each a
"Designee")) who (or which) has an account with the Representative and, in such event, the Representative will make such purchase on behalf of said
affiliate or Designee; provided, however, that the undersigned hereby agrees to make payment of the purchase price of such purchase in the event that
the affiliate or Designee fails to make such payment; provided, further, that any such Designee shall execute an agreement, satisfactory to the
Representative, pursuant to which such Designee agrees not to offer, pledge, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, either directly or indirectly, any Warrants purchased pursuant to the Warrant
purchase letter dated as of            between the Representative and MDC Asset Management Partners, LLC (the "Warrant Purchase Letter") or this Order until after the Business Combination
Date
(as defined in the Warrant Purchase Letter). 

        This
letter agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and its heirs, successors and assigns. 

        This
letter agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely
within the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction. 

        No
term or provision of this letter agreement may be amended, changed, waived, altered or modified except by written instrument executed and delivered by the party against whom such
amendment, change, waiver, alteration or modification is to be enforced. 

	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	
 	

MDC Asset Management Partners, LLC
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	

 	
 	

Name:	

 
	 	 	 	

	

 	
 	

Title:	

 
	 	 	 	

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.21

Schedule 1

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