Document:

Exhibit
10.25

 

STOCK
ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

STOCK
ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of [_____], 2017 (“Agreement”), by and among BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware
corporation (“Company”), BLACK RIDGE OIL & GAS, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Sponsor” and any
permitted transferee of the Sponsor after the date hereof in accordance with the terms hereof being referred to as an “Initial
Stockholder”) and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation (“Escrow Agent”).

 

WHEREAS,
the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated [_____], 2017 (“Underwriting Agreement”), with EarlyBirdCapital,
Inc. (the “Representative”) acting as representative of the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”),
pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 10,000,000 units (“Units”) of the
Company, plus an additional 1,500,000 Units if the Representative exercises the over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists
of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), one right to receive
one-tenth of one share of Common Stock upon the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock
purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business
Combination”), and one half of one Warrant, each whole Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock, in the Company’s
initial public offering (the “IPO”), all as more fully described in the Company’s final Prospectus, dated [_____],
2017 (“Prospectus”) comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-_________)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Registration Statement”), declared effective on [_____], 2017 (“Effective
Date”).

 

WHEREAS,
the Sponsor has agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit its 2,875,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company
in escrow as hereinafter provided.

 

WHEREAS,
the Company and the Sponsor desire that the Escrow Agent accept the shares, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter
provided.

 

IT
IS AGREED:

 

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

 

2.             Deposit
of Shares. On or before the Effective Date, the Sponsor shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent a certificate representing
such Sponsor’s shares, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Sponsor acknowledges
that the certificate representing such Sponsor’s shares is legended to reflect the deposit of such shares under this Agreement.

 

3.             Disbursement
of the Escrow Shares.

 

3.1       If
the Underwriters do not exercise in full their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 Units of the Company
within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Sponsor agrees that the Escrow
Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, a number of shares determined by multiplying 375,000 by a fraction,
(i) the numerator of which is 1,500,000 minus the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, purchased by the Underwriters upon
the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,500,000. The Company shall promptly provide
notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option and the number of
Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with their exercise thereof.

 

     

     

    

 

3.2       Except
as otherwise set forth herein, the Escrow Agent shall hold the shares remaining after any cancellation required pursuant to Section
3.1 above (such remaining shares to be referred to herein as the “Escrow Shares”) until (i) with respect to 50% of
the Escrow Shares, on the earlier of (x) one year after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination
and (y) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted
for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period
commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares,
one year after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination (the “Escrow Period”). The Company
shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow
Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Stockholder’s Escrow Shares (and any applicable share
power) to such Initial Stockholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section
6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated because it failed to consummate a Business Combination within the time period
specified in the Prospectus, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Escrow Shares; provided
further, however, that if, within one year after the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving
entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the
stockholders of such entity having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property,
then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized
officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated
or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Initial Stockholders. The Escrow Agent
shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section
3.

 

4.            Rights
of Initial Stockholder in Escrow Shares.

 

4.1       Voting
Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letters described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein
provided, the Initial Stockholders shall retain all of their rights as stockholders of the Company as long as any shares are held
in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.

 

4.2       Dividends
and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares. For as long as any shares are held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement,
all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Initial Stockholders, but all dividends payable
in stock or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance
with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends
distributed thereon, if any.

 

     2

     

    

 

4.3       Restrictions
on Transfer. During the Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) to the Initial Stockholders’
or the Company’s officers, directors, employees, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to an Initial Stockholders’
officers, directors, employees or members upon the Initial Stockholders’ liquidation, in each case if the Initial Stockholder
is an entity, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the Initial Stockholders’ immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary
of which is the Initial Stockholder or a member of the Initial Stockholders’ immediate family for estate planning purposes,
(iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi)
to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or (vii) in connection
with the consummation of an initial Business Combination, by private sales of the Escrow Shares at prices no greater than the
price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased; provided, however, that except for clause (vi) or with the Company’s
prior written consent, such permissive transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement
to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter signed by the Sponsor transferring the shares.

 

4.4       Insider
Letter. The Sponsor has executed a letter agreement with the Company and the Representative, dated as indicated on Exhibit
A hereto, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Insider Letter”), respecting the
rights and obligations of the Sponsor in certain events, including, but not limited to, the liquidation of the Company.

 

5.            Concerning
the Escrow Agent.

 

5.1       Good
Faith Reliance. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise
of its own best judgment, and may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate,
opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Escrow Agent), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document
(not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability
of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the
proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination
or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties
and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5.8       Waiver.
The Escrow Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”)
in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of
the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Escrow Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse,
reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

6.            Miscellaneous.

 

6.1       Governing
Law. This Agreement shall for all purposes be deemed to be made under and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive
laws of another jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of
or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such personal jurisdiction, which jurisdiction
shall be exclusive. Each of the parties hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent
an inconvenient forum.

 

6.2       Third
Party Beneficiaries. The Sponsor hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

 

6.3       Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and each Insider Letter contain the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing signed
by the party to be charged.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

	 	If to the Company, to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.
	 	 	c/o Black Ridge Oil & Gas, Inc.
	 	 	110 North 5th Street, Suite 410,
	 	 	Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
	 	 	Attn: Ken DeCubellis
	 	 	 
	 	If to the Sponsor, to its address
    set forth in Exhibit A.
	 	 	 
	 	and if to the Escrow Agent, to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
	 	 	1 State Street Plaza
	 	 	New York, New York 10004
	 	 	Attn: Chairman
	 	 	 
	 	A copy of any notice sent hereunder
    shall be sent to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
	 	 	366 Madison Avenue
	 	 	5th Floor
	 	 	New York, New York 10017
	 	 	Attn: General Counsel and Investment Banking
    Department
	 	 	Facsimile: (212) 661-0200
	 	 	 
	 	with a copy to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Graubard Miller
	 	 	The Chrysler Building
	 	 	405 Lexington Avenue
	 	 	New York, New York 10174
	 	 	Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

 

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	 	and:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Greenberg Traurig, LLP
	 	 	Met Life Building
	 	 	200 Park Avenue
	 	 	New York, New York 10166
	 	 	Attn: Alan I. Annex, Esq.
	 	 	 
	 	and:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Stinson Leonard Street LLP
	 	 	150 South Fifth Street, Suite 2300
	 	 	Minneapolis, MN 55402
	 	 	Attn: Jill R. Radloff

 

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

 

6.7       Liquidation
of the Company. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation and dissolution of the Company
in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Prospectus.

 

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

 

 

[Signature
Page Follows]

 

     6

     

    

  

	 	WITNESS the execution of
    this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	 	 	BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SPONSOR:	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	BLACK RIDGE OIL & GAS, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Name: Ken DeCubellis	 
	 	 	Title: Chief Executive Officer	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER 

& TRUST COMPANY	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	By: 		 	 
	 	 	 	Name: 	 
	 	 	 	Title: 	 

 

     7

     

    

 

EXHIBIT
A

 

	 

        

        Name
        and Address 
	 	Number

        

        of
        Shares 
	 	Stock 

        Certificate
        Number

        
	 	Date
of 

        Insider
Letter 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Black
                                         Ridge Oil & Gas, Inc.

        

        110
        North 5th Street, Suite 410,

        

        Minneapolis,
        Minnesota 55403

        
	 	2,875,000	 	1	 	[_____]

 

    8Exhibit 10.26

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

	$125,000.00	As of May 31, 2017

 

Black Ridge Acquisition
Corp. (“Maker”) promises to pay to the order of Black Ridge Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Payee”) the principal
sum of One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($125,000.00) in lawful money of the United States of America, on
the terms and conditions described below.

 

1.           Principal.
The principal balance of this Note shall be repayable on the earlier of (i) June 1, 2018, (ii) the date on which Maker consummates
an initial public offering of its securities (“IPO”) or (iii) the date on which Maker determines to not proceed with
such IPO.

 

2.           Interest.
No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

3.           Application
of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due
under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorneys’ fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges
and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

4.           Events
of Default. The following shall constitute Events of Default:

 

(a)          Failure
to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal of this Note within five (5) business days following the date
when due.

 

(b)          Voluntary
Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter
amended, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law,
or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator
(or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the
benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action
by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

(c)          Involuntary
Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of maker
in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or
similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs,
and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

     

     

    

 

5.           Remedies.

 

(a)          Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 4(a), Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be
due and payable, whereupon the principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately
due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything
contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

(b)          Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(b) and 4(c), the unpaid principal balance of, and all other sums
payable with regard to, this Note shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on
the part of Payee.

 

6.           Waivers.
Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor,
protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by
Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting
any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or
sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and
Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution
issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.

 

7.           Unconditional
Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement
of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other
party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or
consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted
by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agree that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors,
or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to them or affecting their liability hereunder.

 

8.           Notices.
Any notice called for hereunder shall be deemed properly given if (i) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, (ii) personally
delivered, (iii) dispatched by any form of private or governmental express mail or delivery service providing receipted delivery,
(iv) sent by telefacsimile or (v) sent by e-mail, to the following addresses or to such other address as either party may designate
by notice in accordance with this Section:

 

If to Maker:

 

Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.

c/o Black Ridge Oil &
Gas, Inc.

110 North 5th
Street, Suite 410

Minneapolis, MN 55403

    	 	2	 

     

    

 

If to Payee:

 

Black Ridge Oil & Gas,
Inc.

110 North 5th
Street, Suite 410

Minneapolis, MN 55403

 

Notice shall be deemed given
on the earlier of (i) actual receipt by the receiving party, (ii) the date shown on a telefacsimile transmission confirmation,
(iii) the date on which an e-mail transmission was received by the receiving party’s on-line access provider (iv) the date
reflected on a signed delivery receipt, or (vi) two (2) Business Days following tender of delivery or dispatch by express mail
or delivery service.

 

9.           Construction.
This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the domestic, internal law, but not the law of conflict of laws, of
the State of New York.

 

10.         Severability.
Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker,
intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by its Chief Executive Officer the day and year
first above written.

 

	 	BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Ken DeCubellis
	 	 	Name:  Ken DeCubellis
	 	 	Title: CEO

 

    	 	3

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