Document:

Exhibit 10.5 

(Form Of INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT)

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of ________ ___, 200__, by and between GHL Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________ (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as [directors] [officers] or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business
enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Bylaws and Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation expressly provides for the Company to indemnify its officers and directors to the full extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, and thereby contemplates that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board and officers with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as a [director] [officer] without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a [director] [officer] of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise (as defined below)) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for
any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an [officer] [director] of the Company.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events: 

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities;

ii. Change in Board. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(a)(i) or 2(a)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; and

 

 

iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity.

For purposes of this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(B) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(b) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any Enterprise.

(c) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(d) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

(e) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection 

 

 

with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 13(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(f) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a
conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

(g) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative legislative, or investigative nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one initiated by an Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement.

(h) Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

 

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses
shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which 

 

 

Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

Section 7. Additional Indemnification.

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

(b) For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

i. to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

ii. to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

Section 8. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim: 

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under such insurance policy or other indemnity provision, or

(b) for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and
sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or

(c) except as provided in Section 13(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any 

 

 

part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

Section 9. Advances of Expenses. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and
all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8.

Section 10. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from
any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

Section 11. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the 

 

 

Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any
documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and that is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days
after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection that shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

 

Section 12. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) Subject to Section 13(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such
60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of
stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the 

 

 

right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 13. Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) Subject to Section 13(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 7 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 13(a); provided,
however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d) The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall
(within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

Section 14. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, 

 

 

whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Bylaws, Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Company or of any Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of
such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(d) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder in respect of Indemnitee’s service to an Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise.

Section 15. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a [director] [officer] of the Company or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators.

Section 16. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be 

 

 

affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 17. Enforcement.

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws of the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 18. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 19. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter that may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation that it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

 

(b) If to the Company, to

GHL Acquisition Corp.

c/o Greenhill & Co., Inc.

300 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention:

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 21. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause
to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 22. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent
to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

Section 23. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 24. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP. 
 	
                         
 	
                        INDEMNITEE
 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
      By: 
 	
                           
 	
                         
 	
       
 	
                           
 
	
                        Name: 
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Name: 
 	
                         
 
	
                        Office: 
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Address:Exhibit 10.6

[Form of INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT]

This INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of ______ ___, 2008, by and between GHL Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Registration Statement (as defined below).

WHEREAS, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-147722) (the “Registration Statement”), for its initial public offering of securities (the “IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Effective Date”); and

WHEREAS, Banc of America Securities LLC is acting as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters in the IPO pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated on or about the date hereof between the Company and the Representative (the “Underwriting Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, upon execution of this Agreement or as promptly thereafter as practicable, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) $387,500,000 of the net proceeds of the IPO, including $11,400,000 in deferred underwriting compensation (or $445,700,000 of the net proceeds, including $13,200,000 in deferred underwriting compensation, if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and (ii) $8,000,000 of the proceeds from the Company’s issuance and sale in a private placement of 8,000,000 warrants issued to its founding stockholder, Greenhill & Co., Inc. for a total of $395,500,000 (or 453,700,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be deposited and held in a trust account
for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, issued in the IPO (the “Public Stockholders”). The amount to be delivered to the Trustee is referred to herein as the “Property,” and the parties for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property are referred to together with the Company as the “Beneficiaries”; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $11,400,000 (or $13,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, subject to proportional adjustment pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in part, but not in full, prior to its expiration as specified in a notice pursuant to Paragraph 2(d) hereof), subject to reduction, as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, by amounts paid to public stockholders who convert their shares of common stock of the Company for cash, is attributable to deferred underwriting commissions that will become payable by the Company to the underwriters upon the consummation of an Initial Business Combination (the “Deferred Discount”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

 

1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee is hereby appointed to serve as Trustee hereunder, and the Trustee hereby agrees to act as Trustee upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in a segregated trust account (the “Trust Account”) established by the Trustee at Wachovia Securities, LLC;

(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, to invest and reinvest the Property only in U.S. “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 180 days or less, at least one of which has a maturity of 180 days, or in money market funds selected by the Company which invest principally in either short-term securities issued or guaranteed by the United States having a rating in the highest investment category granted thereby by a recognized credit rating agency at the time of acquisition or tax exempt municipal bonds issued by governmental entities located within the United States or otherwise meeting the conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the
Investment Company Act;

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all principal and income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

(e) Notify the Company of all communications received by it with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns for the Company and Trust Account;

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so; and

(h) Render to the Company, Banc of America Securities LLC, and to such other person as the Company may instruct monthly written statements of the activities of and amounts in the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account.

2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized executive officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Paragraph 3, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it in good faith believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

(b) Hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Trustee in 

 

 

connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Company shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such
Indemnified Claim, provided that the Company shall obtain the consent of the Trustee with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless such settlement includes a full release of the Trustee with respect to such Indemnification Claim. The Company may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Trustee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may participate in such action with its own counsel at its own expense;

(c) Pay the Trustee a fee of [  ] for its services as Trustee at the consummation of the IPO (separately and in addition to making payments to the Trustee of a monthly fee of [  ] for transfer agent services, of a one-time fee of [$2,500] for warrant agent services and a closing fee of [  ] in accordance with the terms of a separate fee letter delivered to the Company on [_______ ___, 2008], as subsequently amended from time to time). The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as may be provided in Paragraph 2(b) hereof;

(d)  Within five business days after the underwriters’ over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) expires or is exercised in full, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing (with a copy to the Representative) of the total amount of the Deferred Discount, which shall in no event be less than [$7,980,000]; and

(e) In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders on whether to approve an Initial Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and tabulating stockholder votes (which firm may be the Trustee) verifying the vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding such Initial Business Combination.

3. Liquidation and Distribution of Trust Account Property. The Trustee shall commence liquidation of the Trust Account only upon receipt of, and only in accordance with the terms of, a letter in form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B (a “Termination Letter”), signed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized executive officer of the Company and affirmed by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed
in the Termination Letter and any other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that the Trustee shall (i) from time to time as may be necessary timely to pay any taxes incurred as a result of interest or other income earned on the Property held in the Trust Account (or to reimburse the Company for previous payments thereof), or to pay any franchise taxes incurred by the Company, only upon receipt and in accordance with the terms of a letter in form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Disbursement Letter”), signed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized executive officer of the Company and copied to Authorized Counsel, as evidenced by his or her countersignature thereto,
distribute such funds to the person or persons indicated on the Schedule of Tax Payments attached to the Tax Disbursement Letter the amount or amounts that may be requested by the Company with respect thereto only as directed in the Tax Disbursement Letter 

 

 

and any other documents referred to therein, and (ii) from time to time, only upon receipt and in accordance with the terms of a letter in form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Disbursement Letter”), signed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized executive officer of the Company and copied to Authorized Counsel, as evidenced by his or her countersignature thereto, distribute to the Company such amount as may be requested by the Company for working capital requirements as directed in the Disbursement Letter and the other documents referred to therein, provided, however, that the aggregate amount distributed by the
Trustee to the Company pursuant to this Paragraph 3(ii) may not exceed the lesser of (y) the aggregate amount of interest and any other income actually received or paid on amounts in the Trust Account less an amount equal to estimated taxes that are or will be due on such income at an assumed rate of 40% and (z) $5,000,000, subject to proportional adjustment in the event that the size of the IPO is increased or the underwriters’ over allotment option is exercised in full or in part). In addition, if as of the date of a Termination Letter in form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit B, should the Company have received the full amount of its disbursements pursuant to the preceding sentence, and should such funds be insufficient to cover the Company’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with the adoption and implementation of its plan of dissolution and its liquidation, to
the extent that there is any interest accrued in the Trust Account not required to be used to pay income taxes on interest income earned on the Trust Account balance, the Company may request in the Termination Letter that the Trustee release to it an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay costs and expenses incurred in connection with its dissolution and liquidation.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Authorized Counsel” shall mean, at any date, the attorney retained and authorized by the Company to perform such functions. 

4. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

(a) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Paragraphs 1 and 3 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct;

(b) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property, unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;

(c) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Paragraph 1(c);

(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

(f) The Company or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee 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 Trustee), 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 Trustee, in good faith, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

(g) Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any acquisition made by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and

(h) Subject to the requirements of Paragraph 3 of this Agreement, pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account to any governmental entity or taxing authority.

5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate (except with respect to Paragraph 2(b)); provided, however, that, in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within 90 days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee
may submit an application to have the Property deposited with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever that arises due to any actions or omissions to act by any party after such deposit; or

(b) This Agreement shall terminate, except with respect to Paragraph 2(b), on the earlier to occur of such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 3 hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter and the tenth anniversary hereof.

6. Miscellaneous.

(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. Upon receipt of written instructions, the Trustee will confirm such instructions with an Authorized Individual at an Authorized Telephone Number listed on the attached Exhibit E. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will rely upon account numbers or other identifying numbers of a beneficiary,
beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank, rather than names. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in an account number or other identifying number, provided it has accurately transmitted the numbers provided.

 

 

(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. It may be executed in several counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement or any provision hereof may be changed, waived, amended or modified only by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto, provided, however, that no such amendment or modification (other than to correct a typographical or similar technical error) may be made to paragraphs 1, 2(a), 2(b), 2(d), 2(e), 3, 4, 5, 6(c) or 6(g) or to Exhibits A or B hereof without the consent of the Public Stockholders, it being the specific intention of the parties hereto that each Public Stockholder is and shall be a third-party beneficiary
of this paragraph 6(c) with the same right and power to enforce this paragraph 6(c) as either of the parties hereto, and provided, further, that this Agreement may not be changed, waived, amended or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect the right of the Underwriters to receive the Deferred Discount as contemplated herein without the written consent of the Representative. For purposes of this paragraph 6(c), the “consent of the Public Stockholders” shall mean receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from an entity certifying that (i) such entity regularly engages in the business of serving as inspector of elections for companies whose securities are publicly traded, and (ii) either (a) 70% of the Public Stockholders of record as of a record date established in accordance with Section 213(a) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), have voted in favor of such amendment or modification or (b) 70% of the Public Stockholders of record as of a record date established in accordance with Section 213(b) of the DGCL have delivered to such entity a signed writing approving such amendment or modification. As to any claim, cross-claim or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury.

(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.

(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this 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 by facsimile transmission:

if to the Trustee, to:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, NY 10038

Attn: Herb Lemmer, Vice President

Fax No.: (718) 331-1852

 

 

if to the Company, to:

GHL Acquisition Corp.

300 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

Fax No.: (212) 389-1500 

in either case with a copy to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attn: Deanna Kirkpatrick

Fax No.: (212) 450-3800

(f) No party hereto may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. 

(g) Each of the Trustee and the Company hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

(h) The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it is the specific intention of the parties hereto that the Representative is and shall be a third-party beneficiary of the provisions of this Agreement pertaining to the Deferred Discount (including Section 6(c)) and the Trustee’s obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto (but solely of those provisions and solely with respect to such obligations of the Trustee) with the same right and power to enforce those provisions as either of the parties hereto.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Name:
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Title:
 

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Name:
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Title:
 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

American Stock Transfer

  & Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, New York 10038

Attn: [_______________]

	
                         
 	
                        Re:
 	
          Trust Account No. [                  ] Termination Letter
 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between GHL Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [______ ___, 2008] (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with                  to consummate an Initial Business Combination (as defined in the Trust Agreement) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you
at least 48 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Initial Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Trust Agreement.

Pursuant to Paragraph 2(e) of the Trust Agreement, we are providing you with [an affidavit] [a certificate] of                  verifying the vote of the Company’s stockholders duly approving the Initial Business Combination in accordance with the terms of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The [affidavit] [certificate] includes the identities of the Public Stockholders who voted against the Initial Business Combination and properly exercised their conversion rights in connection therewith.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby instruct you to commence liquidation of the Trust Account so that on the Consummation Date, all funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct.

On the Consummation Date: (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Initial Business Combination has been consummated, (ii) the Company shall deliver to you written instructions with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account other than the Deferred Discount (the “Instruction Letter”) and (iii) the Representative shall deliver to you written instructions for delivery of the Deferred Discount. You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of written notice from counsel and the Instruction Letter, (a) to Public Stockholders who exercised their conversion rights in connection with the Initial Business Combination, in an amount equal to their 

 

 

A-1

 

pro rata share of the amounts in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the Consummation Date (including the Deferred Discount and any income actually received on the Trust Account balance and held in the Trust Account, but less an amount equal to estimated taxes that are or will be due on such income at an assumed rate of 40%); (b) to the Representative in an amount equal to the Deferred Discount as so directed by them, and (c) the remainder in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same, and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company or be distributed immediately and the penalty incurred. Upon the
distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

In the event that the Initial Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date and we have not notified you on or before the Consummation Date of a new date for consummation of the Initial Business Combination that is to take place within three business days of the Consummation Date, then the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Paragraph 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date.

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Very truly yours,
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [TITLE]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        AFFIRMED:
 AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
 COMPANY
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [TITLE]
 

 

 

A-2

 

EXHIBIT B

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

American Stock Transfer

& Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, New York 10038

Attn: Herb Lemmer, Vice President

	
                         
 	
                        Re:
 	
          Trust Account No. [                  ] Termination Letter
 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between GHL Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company dated as of [______ ___, 2008] (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company’s existence expired in accordance with the terms of its amended and restated certificate of incorporation on [insert date] and the Company is proceeding to dissolve and liquidate. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Trust Agreement.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize and request that you[: (i) to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the Trust Account not required to be used to pay income taxes on interest income earned on the Trust Account balance in accordance with the Tax Disbursement Letter included herewith, which provides a full accounting of Tax Payments (as defined therein) made by the Company through the date of this letter but not yet reimbursed by distributions from the Trust, release to us an amount of $______ (which amount shall not exceed $100,000) to pay costs and expenses incurred in connection with its dissolution and liquidation; and (ii)] commence liquidation of the Trust Account as part of the Company’s plan of dissolution and distribution. In connection with this liquidation, you are hereby authorized to establish a record date for
the purposes of determining the stockholders of record entitled to receive their per share portion of the Trust Account. The record date shall be within ten days of the liquidation date, or as soon thereafter as is practicable. You will notify the Company in writing as to when all of the funds in the Trust Account will be available for immediate transfer (the “Transfer Date”) in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company. 

You shall commence distribution of such funds in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company and you shall oversee the distribution of the funds. 

 

 

B-1

 

Upon the payment of all the funds in the Trust Account, the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Very truly yours,
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [TITLE]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        AFFIRMED:
 AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
 COMPANY
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [TITLE]
 

 

 

B-2

 

EXHIBIT C

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

American Stock Transfer

& Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, New York 10038

Attn: [___________________]

	
                         
 	
                        Re:
 	
                            Trust Account No. [                  ] Tax Disbursement Letter
 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement between GHL Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company dated as of [______ ___, 2008] (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Trust Account, as defined in the Trust Agreement, has incurred a total of $_____________________ in taxes (the “Tax Payments”) for the period from ________ __, 200__ to ________ __, 200__ (the “Tax Period”) as a result of interest and other income earned on the Property, plus franchise taxes
incurred by the Company, as defined in the Trust Agreement, during the Tax Period.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to distribute from the Trust Account proceeds from the Property equal to the aggregate Tax Payments on such dates, in such amounts and to such payees as indicated on the Schedule of Tax Payments attached hereto as Schedule 1.

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Very truly yours,
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [Title]
 

 

	
                         
 	
                        Authorized Counsel Signatory:
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 

 

 

C-1

 

SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF TAX PAYMENTS

[Payee]

Payment Date:

Amount:

Address:

[Payee]

Payment Date:

Amount:

Address:

[Payee]

Payment Date:

Amount:

Address:

 

 

C-2

 

EXHIBIT D

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

American Stock Transfer

& Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

Plaza Level

New York, New York 10038

Attn: [___________________]

	
                         
 	
                        Re:
 	
                            Trust Account No. [                  ] Disbursement Letter
 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Section 3(ii) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between GHL Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company dated as of [_________ ___, 2008] (the “Trust Agreement”), we hereby authorize you to disburse from the Trust Account proceeds from the Property, as defined in the Trust Agreement, equal to $_______________, to __________________ via wire transfer on ____________, 200_.

 

	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        Very truly yours,
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        GHL ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                        [Title]
 

 

	
                         
 	
                        Authorized Counsel Signatory:
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        By: 
 	
                          
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                        [NAME]
 	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 

 

 

D-1

 

EXHIBIT E

 

	
                        AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL(S)
 FOR TELEPHONE CALL BACK
 	
                         
 	
                        AUTHORIZED
 TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        Company:
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        GHL Acquisition Corp.
 300 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor
 New York, NY 10022
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	 	 	 
	
                         Attn: Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., Treasurer
 	
                         
 	
                        (212) 389-1516
 
	
                        Attn: John D. Liu, Chief Financial Officer
 	
                         
 	
                        (212) 389-1507
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        Trustee:
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
 59 Maiden Lane
 Plaza Level
 New York, New York 10004
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                         
 	
                         
 	
                         
 
	
                        Attn: Herb Lemmer
 	
                         
 	
                        (718) 921-8209
 

 

 

E-1

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