10-K
Bayview Acquisition Corp (BAYA)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
☒
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Forthe year ended December 31, 2024
Commission
File Number 001-41890
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Cayman Islands | N/A |
|---|---|
| (State<br> or Other Jurisdiction<br><br> <br>of<br> Incorporation) | (I.R.S.<br> Employer<br><br> <br>Identification<br> No.) |
| 420 Lexington Ave Suite 2446<br><br> <br>New York, NY | 10170 |
| --- | --- |
| (Address<br> of principal executive offices) | (zip<br> code) |
(347)627-0058
(Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbols | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
|---|---|---|
| Units, each consisting of one ordinary share and one right | BAYAU | The Nasdaq Stock Market<br> LLC |
| Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share | BAYA | The Nasdaq Stock Market<br> LLC |
| Rights, each right entitling the holder thereof to one-tenth of one ordinary share | BAYAR | The Nasdaq Stock Market<br> LLC |
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirement for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☒ No ☐
The
aggregate market value of the Registrant’s ordinary shares outstanding, other than shares held by persons who may be deemed affiliates of the Registrant, as of the last day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $79,180,800. The Registrant’s units began trading on December 15, 2023.
As
of March 31, 2025, there were 5,441,511 ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 issued and outstanding.
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report, including, without limitation, statements under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. There can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our ability to consummate any acquisition or other business combination and any other statements that are not statements of current or historical facts. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including, but not limited to our:
| ● | our ability to complete<br> our Business Combination; |
|---|---|
| ● | our expectations around<br> the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; |
| ● | our success in retaining<br> or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our Business Combination; |
| ● | our officers and directors<br> allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our Business<br> Combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements; |
| ● | our potential ability to<br> obtain additional financing to complete our Business Combination; |
| ● | the ability of our officers<br> and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities; |
| ● | our public securities’<br> potential liquidity and trading; |
| ● | the lack of a market for<br> our securities; |
| ● | the use of proceeds not<br> held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; |
| ● | the trust account not being<br> subject to claims of third parties; or |
| ● | our financial performance<br> following our Initial Public Offering (as defined below). |
The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section of this Form 10-K entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report. In addition, even if our results or operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
FORM
10-K
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| PART I | 1 | |
| Item 1. | Business | 1 |
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 11 |
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | 71 |
| Item 1C. | Cybersecurity | 71 |
| Item 2. | Properties | 71 |
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | 71 |
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 71 |
| PART II | 72 | |
| Item 5. | Market<br> For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 72 |
| Item 6. | [Reserved] | 73 |
| Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 74 |
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 75 |
| Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 75 |
| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. | 75 |
| Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | 75 |
| Item 9B. | Other Information | 75 |
| Item 9C. | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 75 |
| PART III | 76 | |
| Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 76 |
| Item 11. | Executive Compensation | 83 |
| Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters | 84 |
| Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 85 |
| Item 14. | Principal<br> Accountant Fees and Services. | 87 |
| Item 15. | Exhibits<br> and Financial Statements Schedules | 88 |
| Item 16. | Form 10-K Summary | 88 |
| i |
| --- |
PART
I
| Item 1. | Business |
|---|
Inthis Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”), references to the “Company,” “SPAC,” and to “we,”“us,” and “our” refer to Bayview Acquisition Corp.
General
Bayview Acquisition Corp is a blank check company incorporated on February 16, 2023, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”). We may pursue an acquisition or a business combination with a target in any business or industry that can benefit from the expertise and capabilities of our management team. Our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to a particular geographic region, although we intend to primarily focus on businesses in Asia. We have generated no revenues to date and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues at the earliest until we consummate our Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
On February 23, 2023, Bayview Holding LP and Peace Investment Holdings Limited, our Sponsors, acquired an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) (up to 187,500 shares of which were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), of which Bayview Holding LP owns 474,375 Ordinary Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited owns 963,125 Ordinary Shares. On December 14, 2023, the Company issued an additional 287,500 ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”) for consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 Founder Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 Founder Shares as of the date of the Registration Statement.
As of December 31, 2024, and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024, relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering” or “IPO”) and identifying a target for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on December 14, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”). Additionally, on December 14, 2023, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1MEF adding securities to the Registration Statement. On December 19, 2023 the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 6,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $60,000,000. Unit consists of one Ordinary Share and one right (the “Rights”), with each Right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share. Additionally, on January 28, 2024, the underwriters’ over-allotment option expired and the Sponsors forfeited an aggregate of 225,000 Founder Shares.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private sale of 232,500 Units (the “Private Placement Units”) to Bayview Holding LP and Peace Investment Holdings Limited (the “Sponsors”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $2,325,000.
In addition, concurrent with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (“Chardan”), for $100, an option to purchase a number of Units equal to up to 9% of the public Units sold in the Initial Public Offering (an aggregate of up to 540,000 Units) (the “UPO”). The UPO is exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, between the close of a Business Combination and the fifth anniversary of the date of closing the Initial Public Offering at a price per unit equal to $11.50 (or 115% of the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day immediately prior to consummation of an initial Business Combination).
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Of the proceeds the Company received from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units, $60,000,000 ($10.00 per Public Share) was deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at Bank of America with Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, acting as trustee, with approximately $370,988 being used to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, including underwriting commissions of $1,200,000, and $566,582 being available for working capital following the Initial Public Offering. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay its tax obligations, the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units that are deposited in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (c) the redemption of our Public Shares if we are unable to complete our business combination within 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, subject to applicable law.
Since our Initial Public Offering, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates.
MergerAgreement
On June 7, 2024, Bayview Acquisition Corp entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Merger Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2024, the “Merger Agreement”) with Oabay Holding Company, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“PubCo”), Oabay Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“Oabay”), Bayview Merger Sub I Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 1”), Bayview Merger Sub 2, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 2”), Oabay Merger Sub Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 3”), BLAFC Limited, a business company limited by shares in the British Virgin Islands, Bayview Holding LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Peace Investment Holdings Limited, a Delaware limited partnership, pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth therein, (i) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 1, with SPAC surviving the merger in accordance with the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Act”) (the “First SPAC Merger”), (ii) immediately following the First SPAC Merger, SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 surviving the merger in accordance with the Act (the “Second SPAC Merger,” and together with the First SPAC Merger, the “Initial Mergers”), and (iii) following the Initial Mergers, Merger Sub 3 will merge with and into Oabay, with Oabay being the surviving entity and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo in accordance with the Act (the “Acquisition Merger,” and together with the Initial Mergers, the “Mergers”) (the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to the Mergers, the “Business Combination”).
The Merger Agreement and the Mergers were unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of the Company and Oabay. The Business Combination is expected to be consummated after obtaining the required approval by the shareholders of SPAC and Oabay and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions, as well as that Oabay shall have obtained the Transaction Financing Procured by Oabay (as defined below and in the Merger Agreement).
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Oabay also entered into a support agreement (the “Shareholder Support Agreement”) with certain Oabay shareholder (the “Supporting Shareholder”) with respect to the shares of Oabay currently owned by the Supporting Shareholder. The Shareholder Support Agreement provides that the Supporting Shareholders will appear at shareholders meetings of Oabay and vote, consent or approve the Merger Agreement and the Mergers, whether at a shareholder meeting of Oabay or by written consent. It further provides that the Supporting Shareholders will vote against (or act by written consent against) any alternative proposals or actions that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers.
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company entered into a support agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) with certain holders (the “Initial Shareholders”) of the Founders Shares with respect to Founder Shares currently owned by the Initial Shareholders. The Sponsor Support Agreement provides that the Initial Shareholders will appear at shareholders meetings of the Company and vote, consent or approve the Merger Agreement and the Mergers, whether at a shareholder meeting of the Company or by written consent. It further provides that the Initial Shareholders will vote against (or act by written consent against) any alternative proposals or actions that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers.
ExtraordinaryGeneral Meeting
On September 16, 2024, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) at which the shareholders of the Company approved (i) a proposal to extend the date by which the Company must complete its initial business combination from September 19, 2024 (the “Termination Date”) to June 19, 2025, with all nine (9) extensions comprised of one month each (each an “Extension”) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”) and (ii) a proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated December 14, 2023 by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”) to allow the Company to extend the Termination Date up to nine (9) times, with all nine (9) extensions comprised of one month each from the Termination Date to June 19, 2025 by providing five days’ advance notice to the Trustee prior to the applicable Termination Date and depositing into the Trust Account $125,000 (the “Extension Payment”) for each month in an Extension until June 19, 2025 (the “Trust Agreement Amendment Proposal”).
In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Agreement Amendment Proposal, the holders of 2,290,989 Ordinary Shares properly exercised their rights to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.39 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $23,803,376.
OurManagement Team
For more information on the experience and background of our management team, see the section entitled “Management.”
BusinessStrategy
We will seek to capitalize on the strength of our management team. Our team consists of experienced financial services, accounting, and legal professionals, and senior operating executives of companies operating in multiple jurisdictions. Collectively, our officers and directors have decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions and operating companies. We believe that their accomplishments, and specifically, their current activities, will be critical in identifying attractive acquisition opportunities. In turn, the businesses that we identify, will be able to benefit from accessing the U.S. capital markets and the expertise and network of our management team. However, there is no assurance that we will complete a business combination. Our officers and directors have no prior experience consummating a business combination for a “blank check” company.
There are no restrictions on the geographic location of targets we can pursue, although we intend to initially prioritize Asia. In particular, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination on private companies in Asia that have compelling economics and clear paths to positive operating cash flow, significant assets, and successful management teams that are seeking access to the U.S. public capital markets. However, we will not consummate our initial business combination with an entity or business with China operations consolidated through a VIE structure.
As an emerging market, Asia has experienced remarkable growth. Economies in Asia have experienced sustained expansion in recent years. We believe that Asia is entering a new era of economic growth, which we expect will result in attractive initial business combination opportunities for us. We believe that the growth will primarily be driven by private sector expansion, technological innovation, increasing consumption by the middle class, structural economic and policy reforms and demographic changes in Asia.
AcquisitionCriteria
Our management team intends to focus on creating shareholder value by leveraging its experience in the management, operation, and financing of businesses to improve the efficiency of operations while implementing strategies to scale revenue organically and/or through acquisitions. We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see justification to do so.
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| --- | | ● | Strong Management Team that Can Create Significant Value for Target Business. We will seek to identify companies with strong and experienced<br> management teams that will complement the operating and investment abilities of our management team. We believe that we can provide<br> a platform for the existing management team to leverage the experience of our management team. We also believe that the operating<br> expertise of our management team is well suited to complement many potential targets’ management teams. | | --- | --- | | ● | Revenue and Earnings Growth Potential. We will seek to acquire one or more businesses that have the potential for significant revenue<br> and earnings growth through a combination of both existing and new product development, increased production capacity, expense reduction<br> and synergistic follow-on acquisitions resulting in increased operating leverage. | | ● | Potential for Strong Free Cash Flow Generation. We will seek to acquire one or more businesses that have the potential to generate strong,<br> stable, and increasing free cash flow, particularly businesses with predictable revenue streams and definable low working capital<br> and capital expenditure requirements. We may also seek to prudently leverage this cash flow in order to enhance shareholder value. | | ● | Benefit from Being a Public Company. We intend to only acquire a business or businesses that will benefit from being publicly traded<br> and which can effectively utilize access to broader sources of capital and a public profile that are associated with being a publicly<br> traded company. |
These criteria do not intend to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our Sponsors and management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in the Registration Statement, would be in the form of proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.
BusinessCombination
Pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, we may, by resolution of directors, at the request of our Sponsors, avail ourselves of nine (9) extension periods, with all nine (9) extensions comprised of one month each, to consummate the Business Combination, subject to the Sponsors or its affiliates or designees, upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Business Combination deadline, depositing into the Trust Account for each such monthly extension, on or prior to the date of the applicable Business Combination deadline $125,000 for each month in an Extension. In the event that our Sponsors elects to extend the time to complete a Business Combination, pay the Extension Payment, and deposit the Extension Payment into the Trust Account, the Sponsors will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of the Extension Payment, which amount will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a Business Combination unless there are funds available outside the Trust Account to do so.
In the event that we receive notice from our Sponsors five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our Sponsors and its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of our Sponsors’ affiliates or designees, decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, such affiliates or designees may deposit the entire amount required. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our dissolution and liquidation, the Private Placement Units will expire and be worthless.
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Our Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding deferred underwriting commissions payable to Chardan and taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Our shareholders may not be provided with a copy of such opinion, nor will they be able to rely on such opinion.
The net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units released to us from the Trust Account upon the closing of Business Combination may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete our Business Combination. If our Business Combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the Trust Account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our Business Combination or used for redemption of our Public Shares, we may use the balance of the cash released to us from the Trust Account following the closing for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our Business Combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
In addition, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our Business Combination to be used following the closing for general corporate purposes as described above. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our Business Combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of the Initial Public Offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our Business Combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise. None of our founders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our Business Combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our Business Combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our Business Combination. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that, following the Initial Public Offering and prior to the consummation of our Business Combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote as a class with our Public Shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 18 months from the closing of the IPO or (y) amend the foregoing provisions, unless (in connection with any such amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association) we offer our public shareholders the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares.
OurAcquisition Process
We will utilize the diligence, rigor, and expertise of our managements’ respective platforms to evaluate potential targets’ strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to identify the relative risk and return profile of any potential target for our Business Combination.
We currently do not have any specific business combination under consideration. Our officers and directors have not individually selected a target business. Our management team is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) had any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to a Business Combination with us.
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Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities including other special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our management team is continuously made aware of potential investment opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
Our founders, including Yuk Man Lau, Xin Wang and David Bamper may not become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, before we enter into a binding agreement regarding our Business Combination or we have failed to complete our Business Combination within 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our Business Combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public shareholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our Business Combination and our outstanding rights, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 420 Lexington Ave, Suite 2446, New York, NY 10170. The cost for our use of this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee we will pay to TenX Global Capital LP for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers: Xin Wang and David Bamper. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters, but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our Business Combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our Business Combination and the stage of the Business Combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our Business Combination.
PeriodicReporting and Financial Information
We registered our Units, Ordinary Shares and Rights under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, sent to shareholders. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our Business Combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We are required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large, accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
We filed a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC on December 15, 2023, to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our Business Combination.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we have received, a tax exemption certificate from the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years commencing on March 8, 2023, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our Initial Public Offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Ordinary Shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non- convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
LegalProceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
RiskFactors Summary
We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our Business Combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company.
Since we may initiate a business combination with target company operating in China, you may be subject to additional risk factors. These include significant regulatory, liquidity, and enforcement risks. For example, we face risks arising from the legal system in China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and that rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice. In addition, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time or exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. For a detailed description of the risks relating to acquiring and operating a target business in China, see Please see “Risks Related to Our Possible BusinessCombination in China” and “Risks Related to Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States” for more information.
You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this Form 10-K. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
RisksRelated to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
| ● | Our public shareholders<br> may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business<br> combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination. |
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| ● | If we seek shareholder<br> approval of our initial business combination, our Initial Shareholders have agreed to vote their Founder Shares and private shares<br> in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote. |
| ● | Your only opportunity to<br> affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem<br> your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of the business combination. |
| ● | The ability of our public<br> shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable<br> business combination or optimize our capital structure. |
| ● | Our search for a business<br> combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected<br> by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the status of debt and equity markets, as well as protectionist legislation in our target markets. |
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| --- | | ● | The requirement that we<br> complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of our IPO may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and<br> may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline. | | --- | --- | | ● | We may not be able to complete<br> our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose<br> of winding up. | | ● | You will not have any rights<br> or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore,<br> you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or Rights, potentially at a loss. | | ● | If we seek shareholder<br> approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or<br> a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares, you will lose the ability to redeem<br> all such shares in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares. | | ● | Because of our limited<br> resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our<br> initial business combination and our Rights will expire worthless. | | ● | We may seek acquisition<br> opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise. | | ● | Although we have identified<br> general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our<br> initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines. | | ● | Because we are not limited<br> to a particular industry, sector or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will<br> be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations. | | ● | Our ability to complete<br> a business combination may be impacted by the fact that a some of our officers and directors are located in or have significant ties<br> to the People’s Republic of China, including, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. This may make us a less attractive partner to potential<br> target companies outside the PRC, thereby limiting our pool of acquisition candidates and making it harder for us to complete an<br> initial business combination with a non-China-based target company. For example, we may not be able to complete an initial business<br> combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations<br> and review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) or ultimately prohibited. | | ● | We may engage our underwriters<br> or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after the IPO, which may include acting as financial advisor<br> in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. Our<br> underwriters are entitled to receive deferred commissions and a unit purchase option under certain conditions. These financial incentives<br> may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after the IPO, including,<br> for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination. |
RisksRelated to Our Securities
| ● | We may issue additional<br> Ordinary Shares or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion<br> of our initial business combination, which would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks. |
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| ● | The grant of registration<br> rights to our founders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights<br> may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. |
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| --- | | ● | Our unit purchase option<br> and Rights may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and make it more difficult to effect a business<br> combination, and you may experience dilution if such securities are exercised or converted. | | --- | --- | | ● | If our initial business<br> combination involves a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excise tax will be<br> imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our Ordinary Shares after or in connection with such initial business combination. | | --- | --- |
RisksRelated to Our Management
| ● | Our officers and directors<br> may allocate their time to other businesses and may become officers or directors of any other special purpose acquisition companies,<br> thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs and whether to present<br> potential target to us instead of to our competitors. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete<br> our initial business combination. |
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| ● | Our founders and their<br> respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests. |
| ● | We are an emerging growth<br> company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions<br> from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities<br> less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies. |
PostBusiness Combination Risks
| ● | Our management may not<br> be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss<br> of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate<br> such business. |
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| ● | We may seek acquisition<br> opportunities with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue<br> or earnings. |
RisksRelated to Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States
| ● | Because of the costs and<br> difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted. |
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| ● | Many countries have difficult<br> and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience,<br> which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. |
| ● | We may face additional<br> and distinctive risks if we acquire a technology business. |
| ● | If we effect our initial<br> business combination with a business located in PRC, the laws applicable to such business will likely govern all of our material<br> agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights. |
| ● | PRC regulations relating<br> to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our ability to inject capital in our Chinese subsidiaries and Chinese<br> subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident<br> beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws. |
| ● | Certain existing or future<br> U.S. laws and regulations may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a business combination with certain companies, particularly<br> those target companies in China. |
| ● | If any dividend is declared<br> in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. |
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| --- | | ● | If we effect a business<br> combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our<br> material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights. | | --- | --- | | ● | Changes in the policies,<br> regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be quick with little advance notice and could have a significant<br> impact upon our ability to operate profitably in the PRC. | | ● | The Chinese government<br> may exert substantial interventions and influences over the manner in which our post-combination entity must conduct its business<br> activities that we cannot expect when we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company with major operation in China. If<br> the Chinese government establish some new policies, regulations, rules, or laws in the industries where our post-combination entity<br> is in, our post-combination entity may subject to material change in its operations and the value of our Ordinary Shares. | | ● | Chinese government agencies<br> may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. Additional<br> compliance procedures may be required in connection with our business combination process, and, if required, we cannot predict whether<br> we will be able to obtain such approval. As a result, both you and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government<br> that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities<br> to significantly decline or be worthless. | | ● | In light of recent events<br> indicating greater oversight by the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) over data security, particularly for companies<br> seeking to list on a foreign exchange, companies with more than one million users’ personal information in China, especially<br> some internet and technology companies, may not be willing to list on a U.S. exchange or enter into a definitive business combination<br> agreement with us. Further, we may also avoid conduct a business combination with a company with more than one million users’<br> personal information in China due to the limited timeline for us to complete a business combination. | | ● | Governmental control of<br> currency conversion may affect the value of your investment. | | ● | The governing PRC laws<br> and regulations are sometimes vague and uncertain, which may result in a material change in our operations and the value of our shares<br> if we complete our business combination with a target in China. |
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Youshould carefully consider the following risks and other information in this Form 10-K in evaluating us and our securities. Any of thefollowing risks, as well as additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, couldmaterially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, and could, in turn, impact the trading priceof our securities.
RisksRelated to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
Weare a newly incorporated company formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company with no operating history and no revenues, and you haveno basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a newly incorporated company formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands with no operating results, and we did not commence operations until obtaining funding through our IPO. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our business combination. If we fail to complete our business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Ourindependent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt aboutour ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As
of December 31, 2024, we had a working capital deficit of $1,155,926. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through the IPO are discussed in the section of this Form 10-K titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate the initial business combination or our inability to continue as a going concern.
Ourpublic shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete ourinitial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law, the decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our Public Shares do not approve of the business combination we complete.
Ifwe seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our Initial Shareholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initialbusiness combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
Unlike many other blank check companies in which the Initial Shareholders agree to vote their Founder Shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination, our Initial Shareholders have agreed to vote their Founder Shares and private shares, as well as any Public Shares purchased during the IPO, in favor of our initial business combination.
As a result, in addition to our Initial Shareholders’ Founder Shares, we would need 980,756 or 26.44% of the 6,000,000 Public Shares sold in the IPO to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised). Our Founder Shares and private shares represent 31.70% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately following the completion of the IPO. Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary shareholder approval will be received than would be the case if our founders agreed to vote their Founder Shares and private shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public shareholders.
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Youronly opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of yourright to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of the business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such shareholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek shareholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public shareholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
Theability of our public shareholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential businesscombination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public shareholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. Furthermore, we will only redeem our Public Shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon completion of our initial business combination or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition, each as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.
Theability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to completethe most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of deferred underwriting commissions payable to Chardan will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with a business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to shareholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by deferred underwriting commissions and after such redemptions, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming shareholders will reflect our obligation to pay deferred underwriting commissions.
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Theability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probabilitythat our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If our business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
Asthe number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there maybe more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result inour inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
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Changesin the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate andcomplete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
OurSponsors have the right to extend the term we have to consummate our initial business combination up to 18 months from the closing ofthe IPO without providing our shareholders with a corresponding redemption right.
We have up to 18 months from the closing of the IPO to consummate an initial business combination. However, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 18 months, we may, by resolution of our Board of Directors, if requested by our Sponsors, extend the period of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination by an additional month (for a total of up to 18 months from the closing of the IPO), provided that, pursuant to the terms of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Trust Agreement, our Sponsors or their affiliates or designees, upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, deposit into the trust account $125,000 for each Extension, on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. Our public shareholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any such Extension.
In the event that our Sponsors elect to extend the time to complete a business combination, pay the additional amounts per each Extension, and deposit the applicable amount of money into trust, the Sponsors will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit and payment that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. In the event that we receive notice from our Sponsors five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our Sponsors and their affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of our Sponsors’ affiliates or designees, decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, such affiliates or designees may deposit the entire amount required. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our dissolution and liquidation, the Private Placement Units and Rights will expire and be worthless.
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Therequirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverageover us in negotiating a business combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combinationtargets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our business combination on terms thatwould produce value for our shareholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Wemay not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operationsexcept for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our Public Shares and liquidate, in which case our public shareholders may onlyreceive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we must complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share or less in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-shareredemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Ifwe seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our founders and their affiliates may elect to purchase Ordinary Sharesor Rights from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float”of our Ordinary Shares or Rights.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders or their affiliates may purchase Ordinary Shares or Rights, or a combination thereof, in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so.
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Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our Sponsors, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination.
The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public shareholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. The purpose of such purchases could be to increase the likelihood of closing the initial business combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of Rights could be to reduce the number of Rights outstanding. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. To the extent that any such securities are purchased, such public securities will not be voted as required by Tender Offers and Schedules Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations Question 166.01 promulgated by the SEC.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” ordinary shares and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Ifa shareholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our Public Shares in connection with our business combination, or failsto comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a shareholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such shareholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our Public Shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem Public Shares. For example, we may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed.
Youwill not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate yourinvestment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or Rights, potentially at a loss.
Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those Public Shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in the Registration Statement, (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of our Public Shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO for any reason, compliance with Cayman Islands law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing shareholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our Trust Account. In that case, public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond the 18 months from the closing of the IPO before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or Rights, potentially at a loss.
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Youwill not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we had net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,001 upon the successful completion of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units and filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our Units are immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if the IPO were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination.
Ifwe seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules,and if you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares, you will lose the abilityto redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO, we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association does not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our business combination. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your share in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
Becauseof our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to completeour initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receiveonly approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our Public Shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and ourRights will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses.
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Furthermore, because we are obligated to pay cash for the Ordinary Shares which our public shareholders redeem in connection with our initial business combination, target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held inthe trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Ifthe net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allowus to operate for at least the next 18 months from the closing of the IPO, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in whichcase our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Rights willexpire worthless.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months from the closing of the IPO, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that, upon the closing of the IPO, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months from the closing of the IPO; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or merger agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share or less in certain circumstances on the liquidation of our trust account and Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reducedand the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Ifthe net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it couldlimit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and wewill depend on loans from our founders or management team to fund our search for a business combination, to pay our taxes and to completeour initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, only approximately $575,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $550,000 (excluding deferred underwriting discount), we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $550,000 (excluding deferred underwriting discount), the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our founders or their affiliates to operate, or we may be forced to liquidate. None of our founders nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our founders or an affiliate of our founders as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account but in the event that we seek loans from any third parties, we will obtain a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public shareholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our Public Shares, and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust accountcould be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
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Wedo not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to completea business combination with which a substantial majority of our shareholders do not agree.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that we will only redeem our Public Shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (such that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). As a result, we may be able to complete our business combination even though a substantial majority of our public shareholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our founders, advisors or their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all Public Shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all Public Shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
Ifthird parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount receivedby shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our Public Shares, if we are unable to complete our business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public shareholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Our Sponsors have agreed that they will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.00 per Public Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our Sponsors will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our Sponsors have sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsors’ only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our Sponsors to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Sponsors would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per Public Share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your Public Shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
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Ourindependent directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our Sponsors, resulting in a reduction in the amountof funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our Sponsors assert that they are unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our Sponsors to enforce its indemnification obligations.
While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our Sponsors to enforce their indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
If,after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcypetition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our board may beexposed to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
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If,before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcypetition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of ourshareholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may bereduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
Ourshareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemptionof their shares.
If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. We and our directors and officers who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of our share premium account while we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable for a fine of approximately $18,000 and imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.
Becausewe are not limited to a particular industry, sector or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination,you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
We may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, we will not, under our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, be permitted to complete our business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our Units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Pastperformance by our management team, our advisors and our founders may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with our management team and our founders and their affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team and our founders is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. A majority of our officers, directors and advisors have not had management experience with special purpose acquisition corporations in the past. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s, our advisors’ or our founders’ respective performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. Furthermore, an investment in us is not an investment in our founders or their affiliates.
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Wemay seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our Units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in the IPO than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in the Registration Statement regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following our business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Althoughwe have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we mayenter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the targetbusiness with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteriaand guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceedsheld in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Wemay seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established recordof revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company such as a pre-revenue entity with a limited operating history, a financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, a lack of revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
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Weare not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently,you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financialpoint of view.
Unless we complete our business combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
Resourcescould be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locateand acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders mayreceive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust accountand our Rights will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third partiesbring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholdersmay be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Wemay attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to completeour business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
Wemay have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may complete our initial businesscombination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company,which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
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The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
Wemay attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which mayresult in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to complete our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
Wemay only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, whichwill cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversificationmay negatively impact our operations and profitability.
Of the net proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, up to $60,000,000 will be available to complete our business combination and pay related fees and expenses (which includes up to approximately $2,100,000, for the payment of deferred underwriting commissions).
We may complete our business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to complete our business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
| ● | solely<br> dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or |
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| ● | dependent<br> upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
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This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our business combination.
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Ourability to complete a business combination may be impacted by the fact that some of our officers and directors are located in or havesignificant ties to the People’s Republic of China, including, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. This may make us a less attractivepartner to potential target companies outside the PRC, thereby limiting our pool of acquisition candidates and making it harder for usto complete an initial business combination with a non-China-based target company. For example, we may not be able to complete an initialbusiness combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulationsand review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.
Some of our directors and officers are located in, or have significant ties to, China, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. As a result, we may be a less attractive partner to potential target companies outside the PRC, thereby limiting our pool of acquisition candidates. This would impact our search for a target company and make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a non-China-based target company. For example, we may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity. Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. We may be considered a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations and any proposed business combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review.
The scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”) to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate a business combination with such business.
In addition, if our potential business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing, determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and then bear the risk of CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of CFIUS, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we only have 9 months (or 18 months if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination) to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may prevent us from completing the transaction and require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share initially, and our Rights will expire worthless. Our public shareholders may also lose the potential investment opportunity in a target company and the opportunity of realizing future gains on such investments through any price appreciation in the combined company.
Wemay engage our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after the IPO, which may includeacting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financingtransaction. Our underwriters are entitled to receive deferred commissions and a unit purchase option under certain conditions. Thesefinancial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after theIPO, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after the IPO, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing transactions. Additionally, we have agreed to provide the underwriters with a right of first refusal to provide investment banking services in connection with certain future transactions (which right shall not extend more than three years from the commencement of sales of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110). We may pay our underwriters or their affiliates fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with our underwriters or any of their affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to our underwriters or any of their affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of the Registration Statement, unless the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriter compensation in connection with the IPO. The underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred commissions and the Representative Units that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after the IPO, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
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RisksRelated to Our Securities
NASDAQmay delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securitiesand subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have been approved to have our Units listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the date of the Registration Statement and our Ordinary Shares and Rights listed on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to the IPO we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NASDAQ listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NASDAQ in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on NASDAQ prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in shareholders’ equity (generally $2,500,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with NASDAQ’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on NASDAQ. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and our shareholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $5.0 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round lot holders of our securities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a<br> limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
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| ● | reduced<br> liquidity for our securities; |
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| ● | a<br> determination that our Ordinary Shares is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Ordinary Shares to<br> adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our<br> securities; |
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| ● | a<br> limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
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| ● | a<br> decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
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The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our Units, our Ordinary Shares and Rights are listed on NASDAQ, our Units, Ordinary Shares and Rights will be covered securities. Although the states are pre-empted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NASDAQ, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
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Wemay issue additional Ordinary Shares or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentiveplan after completion of our initial business combination. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likelypresent other risks.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association authorizes the issuance of up to 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share and 2,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the date of this 10-K annual report, there will be 5,441,511 Ordinary Shares (assuming, in each case, that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option and 225,000 Founder Shares have been forfeited as a result) issued and outstanding. As a result, there will be 194,558,489 unissued Ordinary Shares, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account the Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of any outstanding Rights. Immediately after the consummation of the IPO, there will be no preferred shares issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional Ordinary Shares or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination (although our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we may not issue securities that can vote with ordinary shareholders on matters related to our pre-initial business combination activity). However, our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital share that would entitle the holders thereof to: (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote as a class with our Public Shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 18 months from the closing of the IPO, or (y) amend the foregoing provisions, unless (in connection with any such amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association) we offer our public shareholders the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares. These provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, like all provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, may be amended with the approval of our shareholders. However, our executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our Public Shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Ordinary Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares.
The issuance of additional ordinary or preferred shares:
| ● | may<br> significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the IPO; |
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| ● | may<br> subordinate the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares if preferred shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Ordinary<br> Shares; |
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| ● | could<br> cause a change of control if a substantial number of our Ordinary Shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability<br> to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and<br> directors; and |
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| ● | may<br> adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Units, Ordinary Shares and/or Rights. |
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Wemay issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adverselyaffect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of the Registration Statement issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following the IPO, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
| ● | default<br> and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt<br> obligations; |
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| ● | acceleration<br> of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants<br> that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
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| ● | our<br> immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; |
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| ● | our<br> inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such<br> financing while the debt security is outstanding; |
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| ● | our<br> inability to pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares; |
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| ● | using<br> a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends<br> on our Ordinary Shares if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general<br> corporate purposes; |
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| ● | limitations<br> on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
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| ● | increased<br> vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; |
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| ● | limitations<br> on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution<br> of our strategy; and |
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| ● | other<br> disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
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Thegrant of registration rights to our founders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the futureexercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in the IPO, our founders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register their Founder Shares and Private Placement Units, after those shares convert to our Ordinary Shares at the closing of our initial business combination. In addition, holders of our Private Placement Units and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the Private Placement Units and/or the underlying securities, and holders of Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such Units and/or underlying securities. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the shareholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Ordinary Shares that is expected when the Ordinary Shares and Private Placement Units owned by our founders or holders of our working capital units or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
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Inorder to complete our initial business combination, we may seek to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Associationor other governing instruments, including our rights agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial businesscombination but that our shareholders or rights holders may not support.
In order to complete a business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their rights agreement. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, changed industry focus and, with respect to their Rights, amended their rights agreements to require the Rights to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or other governing instruments or change our industry focus in order to complete our initial business combination.
Ourfounders contributed an aggregate of approximately $25,100, or approximately $0.02 per Founder Share, and, accordingly, you will experienceimmediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our Ordinary Shares.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the Ordinary Shares and none to the Rights included in the Units) and the pro forma net tangible book value per our Ordinary Shares after the IPO constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in the IPO. Our founders acquired the Founder Shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of the IPO, and assuming no value is ascribed to the Rights included in the Units, you and the other public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 107% (or $9.73 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $(0.64) and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. In addition, because of the anti-dilution rights of the Founder Shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Ordinary Shares.
Ourfounders paid an aggregate of $25,100 for the Founder Shares, or approximately $0.02 per founder share. As a result of this low initialprice, our founders stand to make a substantial profit even if an initial business combination subsequently declines in value or is unprofitablefor our public shareholders.
As a result of the low acquisition cost of our Founder Shares, our founders could make a substantial profit even if we select and consummate an initial business combination with an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public shareholders. Thus, such parties may have more of an economic incentive for us to enter into an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker-performing or financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, than would be the case if such parties had paid the full offering price for their Founder Shares.
OurPrivate Placement Units and Founder Shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and make it more difficultto complete our business combination.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we issued 232,500 Private Placement Units to our Sponsors. Our founders currently own 1,500,000 Founder Shares (up to 225,000 Founder Shares were forfeited because the over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part). In addition, if our founders or their affiliates make any working capital loans, up to $300,000 of such loans may be converted into working capital units, at the price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such working capital units would be identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement.
To the extent we issue Ordinary Shares to complete a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional Ordinary Shares upon conversion rights of up to $300,000 working capital loans could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares and reduce the value of the Ordinary Shares issued to complete the business combination. Therefore, our Private Placement Units and Founder Shares may make it more difficult to complete a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
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Wemay amend the terms of the Rights in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public rights with the approval by the holders of atleast 50% of the then outstanding public rights.
Our Rights were issued in registered form under a rights agreement and between Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent, and us. The rights agreement provides that the terms of the Rights may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public rights to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public rights. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public rights in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public rights approve of such amendment.
Thedetermination of the offering price of our Units and the size of the IPO is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size ofan offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of ourUnits properly reflects the value of such Units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to the IPO there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the Units and the terms of the Rights were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of the IPO, management held customary organizational meetings with the underwriters with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of the IPO, prices and terms of the Units, including the Ordinary Shares and Rights underlying the Units, include:
| ● | the<br> history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; |
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| ● | prior<br> offerings of those companies; |
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| ● | our<br> prospects for acquiring an operating business; |
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| ● | a<br> review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions; |
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| ● | our<br> capital structure; |
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| ● | an<br> assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; |
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| ● | general<br> conditions of the securities markets at the time of the IPO; and |
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| ● | other<br> factors as were deemed relevant. |
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Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
Thereis currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidityand price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Shareholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following the IPO, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Becausewe must furnish our shareholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageousinitial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include target historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
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Aninvestment in the IPO may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in the IPO may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the Units we are issuing in the IPO, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the Ordinary Shares and the right to receive one-tenth of an ordinary share upon the completion of an initial business combination included in each unit could be challenged by the IRS or courts. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our Ordinary Shares suspend the running of a U.S. Holder’s holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of Ordinary Shares is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividends” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the section titled “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the U.S. federal income tax considerations of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
Ifour initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excisetax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our Ordinary Shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by a publicly traded domestic (i.e., United States) corporation (and certain non-U.S. corporations treated as a “surrogate foreign corporations”) beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”). The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares of the stock repurchased at the time of the repurchase and will apply to stock repurchases occurring in 2023 and beyond. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the excise tax; however, only limited guidance has been issued to date.
As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the Excise Tax is not expected to apply to redemptions of our Ordinary Shares (absent any regulations and other additional guidance that may be issued in the future with retroactive effect).
However, we may be subject to the Excise Tax if, in connection with an initial business combination and prior to certain redemptions, we domesticate into the United States or if we are considered a surrogate foreign corporation under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). We will be considered as a surrogate foreign corporation if, after our acquisition of a United States corporation, at least 60% of our stock, by vote or value, is held by former shareholders of the United States corporation by reason of their holding stock in such United States corporation. If we acquire a domestic corporation, or engage in a transaction in which a United States corporation becomes our parent or our affiliate, and because our securities are expected to trade on Nasdaq following the date of the Registration Statement, we may be, or become, a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the Inflation Reduction Act, and while not free from doubt, it is possible that the Excise Tax will apply to redemptions of our Ordinary Shares in connection with an initial business combination after we become such a “covered corporation” to the extent such redemptions are treated as repurchases for purposes of the Inflation Reduction Act (other than, pursuant to recently issued guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, redemptions in complete liquidation of the company). In all cases, the extent of the excise tax that may be incurred will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our shares redeemed, the extent such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not repurchases, and the content of any regulations and other additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that may be issued and applicable to the redemptions.
Issuances of stock by a repurchasing corporation in a year in which such corporation repurchases stock may reduce the amount of the Excise Tax imposed with respect to such repurchase. The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not the stockholders from which stock is repurchased. The imposition of the Excise Tax could, however, reduce the amount of cash available to the company (or the cash contribution to the target business in connection with our initial business combination).
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For these reasons, the value of your investment in our securities may decrease as a result of the Excise Tax in some circumstances. In addition, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets, and thus, potentially hinder our ability to enter into and consummate an initial business combination.
Wemay be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequencesto U.S. investors.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section of the Registration Statement captioned “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—General”) of our securities, the U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our PFIC status for our current and subsequent taxable years may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of the Registration Statement captioned “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Holders—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Depending on the particular circumstances, the application of the start-up exception may be subject to uncertainty, and there cannot be any assurance that we will qualify for the start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year (and if the start-up exception may be applicable, potentially not until after the two taxable years following). Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Moreover, if we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. We urge U.S. investors to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed discussion of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of the Registration Statement captioned “Taxation—United StatesFederal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Holders—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Ourunit purchase option and Rights may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and make it more difficult to effecta business combination, and you may experience dilution if such securities are exercised or converted.
We issued Rights that resulted in the issuance of up to 600,000 Ordinary Shares as part of the Units offered by the Registration Statement and private rights that resulted in the issuance of an additional 23,250 Ordinary Shares. We issued a unit purchase option to purchase a number of Units equal to up to 9% of the public units sold in the IPO (an aggregate of up to 540,000 Units) to the representative of the underwriters which, if exercised, will result in the issuance of 540,000 Ordinary Shares, including 54,000 Ordinary Shares underlying Rights. The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise or conversion of the foregoing securities could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when exercised or converted, will increase the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, these securities may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying these securities could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these securities are exercised or converted, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
RisksRelated to Our Management
Ourability to successfully complete our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon theefforts of members of our management team, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of such peoplecould negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully complete our business combination is dependent upon the efforts of members of our management team. The role of members of our management team in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some members of our management team may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
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In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Membersof our management team may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular businesscombination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our business combination and as a result, may causethem to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Members of our management team may be able to remain with the Company after the completion of our business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any members of our management team will remain with us after the completion of our business combination. We cannot assure you that any members of our management team will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any members of our management team will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Ourofficers and directors may allocate their time to other businesses and may become officers or directors of other special purpose acquisitioncompanies, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs and whether to presenta target to us instead of our competitors. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initialbusiness combination.
Our officers and directors have fiduciary responsibility to dedicate substantially all their business time to their respective affairs and their respective portfolio companies. However, this responsibility does not require any of our officers or directors to commit his or her full time to our affairs in particular, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses, including other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation. Furthermore, our founders, including Yuk Man Lau, Xin Wang and David Bamper may not become an officer or director of another special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act before we enter a binding agreement regarding our initial business combination. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, each of our officers and certain of our directors are employed by or affiliated with our founders, which makes investments in securities or other interests of or relating to companies in industries we may target for our initial business combination. Our independent directors also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs; or if they have fiduciary duty to present a target company to our competitor instead of us, which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
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Certainof our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activitiessimilar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determiningto which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of the IPO and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business.
Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities in the future to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties, including our founders’ affiliates. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see the sections of the Registration Statement entitled “Management — Officers and Directors,” “Management — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Ourfounders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our founders or their respective affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
Wemay engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliatedwith our founders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our founders or their respective affiliates. Our officers and directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our founders are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Proposed Business — Sources of Target Businesses” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our founders or their respective affiliates, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public shareholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
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Sinceour founders will lose their entire investment in us if our business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise indetermining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On February 23, 2023, our Sponsor, Bayview Holding LP, purchased 1,437,500 Founder Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 of which Bayview Holding LP owns 474,375 Ordinary Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited owns 963,125 Ordinary Shares. On December 14, 2023, the Company issued an additional 287,500 Founder Shares for consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 Founder Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 Founder Shares as of the date of the Registration Statement. On January 28, 2024, 225,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsors were forfeited because the underwriters did not exercise their over-allotment. Prior to the initial investment in the Company of $25,000 by our Sponsors, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of Founder Shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such Founder Shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after the IPO (excluding the private shares and shares underlying the UPO). The Founder Shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our Sponsors purchased an aggregate of 232,500 Private Placement Units, at $10.00 per unit, for a purchase price of approximately $2,325,000. The Founder Shares and Private Placement Units will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. Our Initial Shareholders have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination and (B) not to redeem any Founder Shares or private shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination. In addition, we may obtain loans from our founders. The personal and financial interests of our founders may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.
Theprovisions of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that relate to our pre-business combination activity(and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approvalof holders of two-thirds of our Ordinary Shares, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies.It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the trust agreementto facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our shareholders may not support.
Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company’s pre-business combination activity, without approval by a certain percentage of the company’s shareholders. In those companies, amendment of these provisions requires approval by between 90% and 100% of the company’s public shareholders. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of the IPO and the Private Placement Units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public shareholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of two-thirds of our Ordinary Shares entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of two-thirds of our Ordinary Shares entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association may be amended by holders representing two-thirds of our outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association or in our initial business combination. Our founders, who collectively beneficially owned up to 25% of our Ordinary Shares upon the closing of the IPO (assuming they did not purchase any Units in the IPO), will participate in any vote to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which you do not agree. Our shareholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Our Initial Shareholders have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO, or (ii) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Ordinary Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our founders. Our shareholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our founders for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our shareholders would need to pursue a shareholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
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Wemay be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a targetbusiness, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, because we have not yet selected any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from shareholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (and not previously released to us to pay our taxes) on the liquidation of our trust account and our Rights will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account, and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— Ifthird parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount receivedby shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Ourfounders and other insiders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that youdo not support.
Upon the closing of the IPO, our founders owned Founder Shares representing 25% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (excluding the private shares and shares underlying the UPO, and assuming they did not purchase any Units in the IPO). Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we issued 232,500 Private Placement Units to our Sponsors. In addition, if our founders or their designated parties make any working capital loans, up to $300,000 of such loans may be converted into working capital units, at the price of $10.00 per Unit at the option of the lenders. Such working capital units would be identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement. Accordingly, our founders along with any designated parties may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our founders purchase any Units in the IPO or if they purchase any additional Ordinary Shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by certain of our Initial Shareholders, is and are divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to elect directors. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our Initial Shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our Initial Shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.
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PostBusiness Combination Risks
Ourmanagement may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurancethat, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitablyoperate such business.
We may structure a business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target sufficient for the post-transaction company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new Ordinary Shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital share of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new Ordinary Shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding Ordinary Shares subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority shareholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s share than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
Subsequentto the completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairmentor other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our share price,which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may face general risks related to our business combination with any company.
Any business combination with another company entails special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing a business combination with a target business, we may be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks:
| ● | an<br> inability to compete effectively in a highly competitive environment with many incumbents having substantially greater resources; |
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| ● | an<br> inability to manage rapid change, increasing consumer expectations and growth; |
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| ● | an<br> inability to build strong brand identity and improve subscriber or customer satisfaction and loyalty; |
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| --- | | ● | a<br> reliance on proprietary technology to provide services and to manage our operations, and the failure of this technology to operate<br> effectively, or our failure to use such technology effectively; | | --- | --- | | ● | an<br> inability to deal with our subscribers’ or customers’ privacy concerns; | | --- | --- | | ● | an<br> inability to attract and retain subscribers or customers; | | --- | --- | | ● | an<br> inability to license or enforce intellectual property rights on which our business may depend; | | --- | --- | | ● | any<br> significant disruption in our computer systems or those of third parties that we would utilize in our operations; | | --- | --- | | ● | an<br> inability by us, or a refusal by third parties, to license content to us upon acceptable terms; | | --- | --- | | ● | potential<br> liability for negligence, copyright, or trademark infringement or other claims based on the nature and content of materials that<br> we may distribute; | | --- | --- | | ● | competition<br> for advertising revenue; | | --- | --- | | ● | competition<br> for the leisure and entertainment time and discretionary spending of subscribers or customers, which may intensify in part due to<br> advances in technology and changes in consumer expectations and behavior; | | --- | --- | | ● | disruption<br> or failure of our networks, systems or technology as a result of computer viruses, “cyber-attacks,” misappropriation<br> of data or other malfeasance, as well as outages, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, accidental releases of information or similar<br> events; | | --- | --- | | ● | an<br> inability to obtain necessary hardware, software and operational support; and | | --- | --- | | ● | reliance<br> on third-party vendors or service providers. | | --- | --- |
Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination.
Oursuccess will ultimately depend upon market acceptance of our products and services, our ability to develop and commercialize existingand new products and services and generate revenues, and our ability to identify new markets for its technology.
Ultimately, our success will depend on the acceptance of our products and services in the target markets. We are faced with the risk that the marketplace will not be receptive to our products and services over competing products and that we will be unable to compete effectively. We will face challenges of developing (or acquiring externally-developed) technology solutions that are adequate and competitive in meeting the requirements of next-generation design challenges.
We cannot assure investors that the products and services of the company with which we conduct a business combination, or any future products and services will gain broad market acceptance. If the market for our products and services fails to develop or develops more slowly than expected, or if any of the services and standards supported by us do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.
Ifwe fail to adapt and respond effectively to rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, changing regulations and paymentmethods, demand for product enhancements, new product features, and changing business needs, requirements or preferences, our productsmay become less competitive.
Regardless of our business combination target’s industry, it will likely be subject to ongoing technological change, evolving industry standards, changing regulations, and changing customer needs, requirements and preferences. The success of our business will depend, in part, on our ability to adapt and respond effectively to these changes on a timely basis, including launching new products and services. The success of any new product and service, or any enhancements, features, or modifications to existing products and services, depends on several factors, including the timely completion, introduction, and market acceptance of such products and services, enhancements, modifications and new product features. If we are unable to enhance our products or develop new products that keep pace with technological and regulatory change and changes in customer preferences and achieve market acceptance, or if new technologies emerge that are able to deliver competitive products and services at lower prices, more efficiently, more conveniently, or more securely than our products, our business, operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected. Furthermore, modifications to our existing platform, products, or technology will increase our research and development expenses. Any failure of our products and services to operate effectively could reduce the demand for our services, result in customer dissatisfaction and adversely affect our business.
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Technologyplatforms may not operate properly or as we expect it to operate.
Technology platforms are expensive and complex, their continuous development, maintenance and operation may entail unforeseen difficulties including material performance problems or undetected defects or errors. We may encounter technical obstacles, and it is possible that we may discover additional problems that prevent our technology from operating properly. If our platform does not function reliably, we may not be able to provide any products or services. Errors could also cause customer dissatisfaction with us, which could cause customers to stop purchasing or working with us. Any of these eventualities could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Newor changing technologies, could cause a disruption in our business model, which may materially impact our results of operations and financialcondition.
If we fail to anticipate the impact on our business of changing technology, our ability to successfully operate may be materially impaired. Our business could also be affected by potential technological changes. Such changes could disrupt the demand for products from current customers, create coverage issues or impact the frequency or severity of losses, or reduce the size of the ultimate market, causing our business to decline. We may not be able to respond effectively to these changes, which could have a material effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Claimsby others that we infringe or have infringed their proprietary technology or other intellectual property rights could harm our business.
Companies in the technology industries are frequently subject to litigation based on allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. In addition, certain companies and rights holders seek to enforce and monetize patents or other intellectual property rights they own, have purchased or have otherwise obtained. As we gain an increasingly high public profile, the possibility of intellectual property rights claims against us grows. From time to time, third parties may assert claims of infringement of intellectual property rights against us. Although we may have meritorious defenses, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in defending against these allegations or in reaching a business resolution that is satisfactory to us. Our competitors and others may now and in the future have significantly larger and more mature patent portfolios than us. In addition, future litigation may involve patent holding companies or other adverse patent owners who have no relevant product or service revenue and against whom our own patents may therefore provide little or no deterrence or protection. Many potential litigants, including competitors and patent-holding companies, have the ability to dedicate substantial resources to the assertion of their intellectual property rights. Any claim of infringement by a third party, even those without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against the claim, could distract our management from our business and could require us to cease use of such intellectual property. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, we risk compromising our confidential information during this type of litigation. We may be required to pay substantial damages, royalties or other fees in connection with a claimant securing a judgment against us, we may be subject to an injunction or other restrictions that prevent us from using or distributing our intellectual property, or from operating under our brand, or we may agree to a settlement that prevents us from distributing our offerings or a portion thereof, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
With respect to any intellectual property rights claim, we may have to seek out a license to continue operations found or alleged to violate such rights, which may not be available, or if available, may not be available on favorable or commercially reasonable terms and may significantly increase our operating expenses. Some licenses may be non-exclusive, and therefore our competitors may have access to the same technology licensed to us. If a third party does not offer us a license to its intellectual property on reasonable terms, or at all, we may be required to develop alternative, non-infringing technology, which could require significant time (during which we would be unable to continue to offer our affected offerings), effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful. Any of these events could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Wemay seek acquisition opportunities with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established recordof revenue or earnings.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
RisksRelated to Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States
Wemay effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and if we do, we would be subject to a varietyof additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results.
If we consummate a business combination with a target business located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ governing jurisdiction, including any of the following:
| ● | rules<br> and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
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| ● | tariffs<br> and trade barriers; |
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| ● | regulations<br> related to customs and import/export matters; |
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| ● | longer<br> payment cycles than in the United States; |
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| ● | inflation; |
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| ● | economic<br> policies and market conditions; |
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| ● | unexpected<br> changes in regulatory requirements; |
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| ● | challenges<br> in managing and staffing international operations; |
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| ● | tax<br> issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
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| ● | currency<br> fluctuations; |
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| ● | challenges<br> in collecting accounts receivable; |
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| ● | cultural<br> and language differences; |
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| ● | protection<br> of intellectual property; and |
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| ● | employment<br> regulations. |
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We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.
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Becauseof the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.
Managing a business, operations, personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the U.S.) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business) and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.
Ifsocial unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactmentsoccur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on ourbusiness.
Political events in another country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular country.
Manycountries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruptionand inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to seek and enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations, assets or financial condition.
Rules and regulations in many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and inconsistent.
Delay with respect to the enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.
Ifwe effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likelygovern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws of the country in which such company operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available in this new jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we acquire a company located outside of the United States, it is likely that substantially all of our assets would be located outside of the United States and some of our officers and directors might reside outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers, or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under Federal securities laws.
Ifrelations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods andservices to become less attractive.
The relationship between the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States may announce its intention to impose quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for investors in the IPO to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and a foreign country in which we acquire a target business or move our principal manufacturing or service operations.
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Ifany dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S.
If you are a U.S. holder of our Ordinary Shares, you will be taxed on the U.S. dollar value of your dividends, if any, at the time you receive them, even if you actually receive a smaller amount of U.S. dollars when the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Specifically, if a dividend is declared and paid in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot rate of the foreign currency to the U.S. dollar on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Thus, if the value of the foreign currency decreases before you actually convert the currency into U.S. dollars, you will be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will actually ultimately receive.
Ifour management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend timeand resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following our initial business combination, certain members of our management team will likely resign from their positions as officers or directors of the company and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues, which may adversely affect our operations.
Afterour initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenuemay be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significantextent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. The economies of many countries in Asia where we would contemplate a business combination differ from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. Such economic growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
Currencypolicies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
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Manyof the economies in Asia are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures which may prompt the governments to take action to controlthe growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability following our initial businesscombination.
There is no restriction in the geographic location of targets that we can pursue, although we intend to initially prioritize geographic locations in Asia. In the event that our target business is in Asia, while many of the economies in Asia have experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, they currently are experiencing inflationary pressures. As governments take steps to address the current inflationary pressures, there may be significant changes in the availability of bank credits, interest rates, limitations on loans, restrictions on currency conversions and foreign investment. There also may be imposition of price controls. If prices for the products of our ultimate target business rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability. If these or other similar restrictions are imposed by a government to influence the economy, it may lead to a slowing of economic growth. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, the ultimate industry that we operate in may be affected more severely by such a slowing of economic growth.
Manyindustries in Asia are subject to government regulations that limit or prohibit foreign investments in such industries, which may limitthe potential number of acquisition candidates.
Governments in many Asian countries have imposed regulations that limit foreign investors’ equity ownership or prohibit foreign investments altogether in companies that operate in certain industries. As a result, the number of potential acquisition candidates available to us may be limited or our ability to grow and sustain the business, which we ultimately acquire will be limited.
Ifa country in Asia enacts regulations in industry segments that forbid or restrict foreign investment, our ability to consummate our initialbusiness combination could be severely impaired.
Many of the rules and regulations that companies face concerning foreign ownership are not explicitly communicated. If new laws or regulations forbid or limit foreign investment in industries in which we want to complete our initial business combination, they could severely impair our candidate pool of potential target businesses. Additionally, if the relevant central and local authorities find us or the target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination to be in violation of any existing or future laws or regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation, including, without limitation:
| ● | levying<br> fines; |
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| ● | revoking<br> our business and other licenses; |
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| ● | requiring<br> that we restructure our ownership or operations; and |
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| ● | requiring<br> that we discontinue any portion or all of our business. |
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Any of the above could have an adverse effect on our company post-business combination and could materially reduce the value of your investment.
Corporategovernance standards in Asia may not be as strict or developed as in the United States and such weakness may hide issues and operationalpractices that are detrimental to a target business.
General corporate governance standards in some countries are weak in that they do not prevent business practices that cause unfavorable related party transactions, over-leveraging, improper accounting, family company interconnectivity and poor management. Local laws often do not go far enough to prevent improper business practices. Therefore, shareholders may not be treated impartially and equally as a result of poor management practices, asset shifting, conglomerate structures that result in preferential treatment to some parts of the overall company, and cronyism. The lack of transparency and ambiguity in the regulatory process also may result in inadequate credit evaluation and weakness that may precipitate or encourage financial crisis. In our evaluation of a business combination we will have to evaluate the corporate governance of a target and the business environment, and in accordance with United States laws for reporting companies take steps to implement practices that will cause compliance with all applicable rules and accounting practices. Notwithstanding these intended efforts, there may be endemic practices and local laws that could add risk to an investment we ultimately make and that result in an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.
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Wemay face additional and distinctive risks if we acquire a technology business.
Business combinations with technology businesses may involve special considerations and risks. If we complete our initial business combination with a technology business, we will be subject to the following risks, any of which could be detrimental to us and the business we acquire:
| ● | If<br> we are unable to keep pace with evolving technology and changes in the technology services industry, our revenues and future prospects<br> may decline; |
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| ● | Any<br> business or company we acquire could be vulnerable to cyberattack or theft of individual identities or personal data; |
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| ● | Difficulties<br> with any products or services we provide could damage our reputation and business; |
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| ● | A<br> failure to comply with privacy regulations could adversely affect relations with customers and have a negative impact on business; |
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| ● | We<br> may not be able to protect our intellectual property and we may be subject to infringement claims; and |
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| ● | We<br> and any business or company we acquire may not be able to adapt to the complex and evolving regulatory environment for financial<br> technology services. |
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Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to technology businesses. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks will likely not affect us and we will be subject to other risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, none of which can be presently ascertained.
Ifwe effect our initial business combination with a business located in the in the PRC, the laws applicable to such business will likelygovern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
If we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC, the laws of the country in which such business operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations, including any contractual arrangements through which we acquire control of target business as described above. We cannot assure you that we or the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available in this jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. In addition, the judiciary in the PRC is relatively inexperienced compared to others in enforcing corporate and commercial law, leading to a higher than usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. In addition, to the extent that our target business’s material agreements are with governmental agencies in the PRC, we may not be able to enforce or obtain a remedy from such agencies due to sovereign immunity, in which the government is deemed to be immune from civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital.
If we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC, we may be subject to certain risks associated with acquiring and operating businesses in the PRC.
We may be subject to certain risks associated with acquiring and operating a business in the PRC in our search for a business combination and operation of any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination.
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First, certain rules and regulations concerning mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors in the PRC may make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more complex and time consuming, including, among others:
| ● | the<br> requirement that the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC (the “MOFCOM”) be notified in certain circumstances in advance of<br> any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise or any concentration of<br> undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered; |
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| ● | the<br> authority of certain government agencies to have scrutiny over the economics of an acquisition transaction and requirement for consideration<br> in a transaction to be paid within stated time limits; and |
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| ● | the<br> requirement for mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and<br> mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national<br> security” concerns to be subject to strict review by the MOFCOM. |
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Complying with these and other requirements could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM or its local counterparts, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to acquire PRC-based businesses. A business combination we propose may not be able to be completed if the terms of the transaction do not satisfy aspects of the approval process and may not be completed, even if approved, if they are not consummated within the time permitted by the approvals granted.
In addition, the PRC currently prohibits and/or restricts foreign ownership in certain “important industries,” including telecommunications, food production and heavy equipment. There are uncertainties under certain regulations whether obtaining a majority interest through contractual arrangements will comply with regulations prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership in certain industries. There is no assurance that the PRC government will not apply restrictions in other industries. In addition, there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or those having “famous brand names” or “well-established brand names.” Subject to the review and approval requirements of the relevant agencies and the various percentage ownership limitations that exist from time to time, acquisitions involving foreign investors and parties in the various restricted categories of assets and industries may nonetheless sometimes be consummated using contractual arrangements with permitted local parties. If we choose to effect a business combination that employs the use of these types of control arrangements, these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with the same economic benefits, accounting consolidation or control over a target business as would direct ownership due to limited implementation guidance provided with respect to such regulations. If the government of the PRC finds that the agreements we entered into to acquire control of a target business through contractual arrangements with one or more operating businesses do not comply with local governmental restrictions on foreign investment, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to significant penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
If we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC, a substantial portion of our operations may be conducted in the PRC, and a significant portion of our net revenues maybe derived from customers where the contracting entity is located in the PRC. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and certain transactions we may undertake may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and governmental and legal developments, laws and regulations in the PRC. For instance, all or most of our material agreements may be governed by PRC law and we may have difficulty in enforcing our legal rights because the system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in PRC may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. In addition, contractual arrangements we enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities or acquisitions of offshore entities that conduct operations through affiliates in the PRC may be subject to a high level of scrutiny by the relevant PRC tax authorities. We may also be subject to restrictions on dividend payments after we consummate a business combination and if we rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations.
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Contractualarrangements we enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities or acquisitions of offshore entities that conductoperations through affiliates in the PRC may be subject to a high level of scrutiny by the relevant tax authorities.
Under the laws of the PRC, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the relevant tax authorities. If any of the transactions we enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities are found not to be on an arm’s-length basis, or to result in an unreasonable reduction in tax under local law, the relevant tax authorities may have the authority to disallow any tax savings, adjust the profits and losses of such potential future local entities and assess late payment interest and penalties. A finding by the relevant tax authorities that we are ineligible for any such tax savings, or that any of our possible future affiliated entities are not eligible for tax exemptions, would substantially increase our possible future taxes and thus reduce our net income and the value of a shareholder’s investment. In addition, in the event that in connection with an acquisition of an offshore entity that conducted its operations through affiliates in the PRC, the sellers of such entities failed to pay any taxes required under local law, the relevant tax authorities could require us to withhold and pay the tax, together with late-payment interest and penalties. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition.
Ifthe government of the PRC finds that the agreements we entered into to acquire control of a target business do not comply with localgovernmental restrictions on foreign investment, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in thefuture, we could be subject to significant penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations or we could be unableto assert our contractual control rights over the assets of the post-combination target company, which could cause the value of our OrdinaryShares depreciate significantly or become worthless.
The PRC currently prohibits and/or restricts foreign ownership in certain “important industries,” including telecommunications, food production and heavy equipment. There are uncertainties under certain regulations whether obtaining a majority interest through contractual arrangements will comply with regulations prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership in certain industries. For example, the PRC may apply restrictions in other industries in the future. In addition, there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or those having “famous brand names” or “well-established brand names.”
If we or any of our potential future target businesses are found to be in violation of any existing or future local laws or regulations (for example, if we are deemed to be holding equity interests in certain of our affiliated entities in which direct foreign ownership is prohibited), the relevant regulatory authorities might have the discretion to:
| ● | revoke<br> the business and operating licenses of the potential future target business; |
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| ● | confiscate<br> relevant income and impose fines and other penalties; |
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| ● | discontinue<br> or restrict the operations of the potential future target business; |
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| ● | require<br> us or the potential future target business to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; |
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| ● | restrict<br> or prohibit our use of the proceeds of the IPO to finance our businesses and operations in the relevant jurisdiction; or |
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| ● | impose<br> conditions or requirements with which we or the potential future target business may not be able to comply. |
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If we acquire control of a target business through contractual arrangements with one or more operating businesses in the PRC, such contracts may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership of such business and may be difficult to enforce.
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We will only acquire a business or businesses that, upon the consummation of our initial business combination, will be our majority-owned subsidiaries and will be neither investment companies nor companies excluded from the definition of an investment company by Section 3I(1) or I)(7) of the Investment Company Act. However, the PRC has restricted or limited foreign ownership of certain kinds of assets and companies operating in certain industries. The industry groups that are restricted are wide-ranging, including, for example, certain aspects of telecommunications, food production, and heavy equipment manufacturers. In addition, there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or having “famous brand names” or “well-established brand names.” Subject to the review and approval requirements of the relevant agencies for acquisitions of assets and companies in the relevant jurisdictions and subject to the various percentage ownership limitations that exist from time to time, acquisitions involving foreign investors and parties in the various restricted categories of assets and industries may nonetheless sometimes be consummated using contractual arrangements with permitted local parties. To the extent that such agreements are employed, they may be for control of specific assets such as intellectual property or control of blocks of the equity ownership interests of a company which may provide exceptions to the merger and acquisition regulations mentioned above since these types of arrangements typically do not involve a change of equity ownership in the operating company. The agreements would be designed to provide our company with the economic benefits of, and control over, the subject assets or equity interests similar to the rights of full ownership, while leaving the technical ownership in the hands of local parties who would be our nominees and, therefore, may exempt the transaction from certain regulations, including the application process required thereunder.
However, since there has been limited implementation guidance provided with respect to such regulations, the relevant government agency might apply them to a business combination effected through contractual arrangements. If such an agency determines or interprets that such an application should have been made or that our potential future target businesses are otherwise in violation of local laws or regulations, consequences may include confiscating relevant income and levying fines and other penalties, revoking business and other licenses, requiring restructure of ownership or operations, requiring discontinuation or restriction of the operations of any portion or all of the acquired business, restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds of the IPO to finance our businesses and operations and imposing conditions or requirements with which we or potential future target businesses may not be able to comply, and we could be unable to assert our contractual control rights over the assets of the post-combination target company, which could cause the value of our Ordinary Shares may depreciate significantly or become worthless. These agreements likely also would provide for increased ownership or full ownership and control by us when and if permitted under local laws and regulations. If we choose to effect a business combination that employs the use of these types of control arrangements, we may have difficulty in enforcing our rights. Therefore, these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with the same economic benefits, accounting consolidation or control over a target business as would direct ownership. For example, if the target business or any other entity fails to perform its obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend substantial resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies under local law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure will be sufficient to offset the cost of enforcement and may adversely affect the benefits we expect to receive from the business combination.
PRCregulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our ability to inject capital in our Chinese subsidiariesand Chinese subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or ourPRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws.
In July 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC, or SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, will be required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change, including, among other things, any major change of a PRC resident shareholder, name or term of operation of the SPVs, or any increase or reduction of the SPVs’ registered capital, share transfer or swap, merger or division. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE or its branches. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
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We cannot provide assurance that our shareholders that are PRC residents comply with all of the requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules. Failure or inability of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, limit the ability of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to distribute dividends and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital into the subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a result, our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Compliancewith the PRC Antitrust Law may limit our ability to effect our initial business combination.
The PRC Antitrust Law became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Commission and other antitrust authorities under the State Council. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates (1) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (2) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (3) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. To implement the Antitrust Law, in 2008, the State Council formulated the regulations that require filing of concentration of business operators, pursuant to which concentration of business operators refers to (1) merger with other business operators; (2) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (3) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means. In 2009, the Ministry of Commerce, to which the Antitrust Commission is affiliated, promulgated the Measures for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators (amended by the Guidelines for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators in 2014), which set forth the criteria of concentration and the requirement of miscellaneous documents for the purpose of filing. The business combination we contemplate may be considered the concentration of business operators, and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law and the criteria established by the State Council, we must file with the antitrust authority under the PRC State Council prior to conducting the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated business combination has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, we may proceed to consummate the contemplated business combination. If antitrust authority decides to prohibit the contemplated business combination after further investigation, we must terminate such business combination and would then be forced to either attempt to complete a new business combination or we would be required to return any amounts which were held in the trust account to our shareholders. When we evaluate a potential business combination, we will consider the need to comply with the Antitrust Law and other relevant regulations which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition or may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction. Since our business combination period is within 18 months from the closing of the IPO, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO.
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Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of the IPO to acquire a target company in PRC and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination.
SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 59, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 45. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties.
As such, Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer the proceeds of the IPO to a PRC target company and the use of such proceeds by the PRC target company. In addition, following our initial business combination with a PRC target company, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, FIEs are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following our initial business combination, we will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency conversion within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investment, loans and securities, still require approval of the SAFE.
We cannot assure you the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of the IPO in an initial business combination with a PRC target company and the use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.
Ourinitial business combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government, and we may have to spend additional resourcesand incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
On February 3, 2011, the PRC government issued a Notice Concerning the Establishment of Security Review Procedure on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or Security Review Regulations, which became effective on March 5, 2011. The Security Review Regulations cover acquisitions by foreign investors of a broad range of PRC enterprises if such acquisitions could result in de facto control by foreign investors and the enterprises are relating to military, national defense, important agriculture products, important energy and natural resources, important infrastructures, important transportation services, key technologies and important equipment manufacturing. The scope of the review includes whether the acquisition will impact the national security, economic and social stability, and the research and development capabilities on key national security related technologies. Foreign investors should submit a security review application to the Department of Commerce for its initial review for contemplated acquisition. If the acquisition is considered to be within the scope of the Security Review Regulations, the Department of Commerce will transfer the application to a joint security review committee within five business days for further review. The joint security review committee, consisting of members from various PRC government agencies, will conduct a general review and seek comments from relevant government agencies. The joint security review committee may initiate a further special review and request the termination or restructuring of the contemplated acquisition if it determines that the acquisition will result in significant national security issue.
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The Security Review Regulations will potentially subject a large number of mergers and acquisitions transactions by foreign investors in China to an additional layer of regulatory review. Currently, there is significant uncertainty as to the implication of the Security Review Regulations. Neither the Department of Commerce nor other PRC government agencies have issued any detailed rules for the implementation of the Security Review Regulations. If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a target company operating in the PRC in any of the sensitive sectors identified above, the transaction will be subject to the Security Review Regulations, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, since our business combination period is 18 months from the closing of the IPO, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO.
Ourinitial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection,and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be preventedfrom pursuing certain investment opportunities.
Our initial business combination may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.
Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and took effect on June 1, 2017, personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affects or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”). Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operator” remains unclear.
Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities, which was available to the public on July 6, 2021. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. These opinions proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies and the demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection. Moreover, the State Internet Information Office issued the Measures of Cybersecurity Review (Revised Draft for Comments, not yet effective) on July 10, 2021, which requires operators with personal information of more than 1 million users who want to list abroad to file a cybersecurity review with the CAC. As these opinions and the draft measurers were recently issued, official guidance and interpretation of these two remain unclear in several respects at this time.
If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a target business operating in the PRC and if the enacted version of the draft measures mandates clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific actions to be completed by the target business, we may face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all, and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. Cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our initial business combination and diversion of our managerial and financial resources. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, since our business combination period is 18 months from the closing of the IPO, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO.
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Inlight of recent events indicating greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreignexchange, companies with more than one million users’ personal information in China, especially some internet and technology companies,may not be willing to list on a U.S. exchange or enter into a definitive business combination agreement with us. Further, we may alsoavoid conduct a business combination with a company with more than one million users’ personal information in China due to thelimited timeline for us to complete a business combination.
Companies in China are subject to various risks and costs associated with the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. This data is wide ranging and relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties and third parties. If we decide to initiate a business combination with a company in China, our compliance obligations include those relating to the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the relevant PRC laws in this regard. These PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between a holding company and its subsidiaries. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.
Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and took effect on June 1, 2017, personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affects or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operator” remains unclear. On July 10, 2021, the CAC publicly issued the Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship (Revised Draft for Comments) aiming to, upon its enactment, replace the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship. The draft measures extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews to data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, including listing in a foreign country. The draft measures require a company holding more than one million personal information to submit its IPO materials prepared for submission for cybersecurity review before listing on a foreign exchange.
It is unclear whether the draft measures will apply to a company planning to list on a U.S. exchange by business combination with a special purpose acquisition corporation like us. If cybersecurity review applies to our business combination with a company holding more than one million personal information in China, we cannot guarantee that we will receive such approval in a timely manner. Further, due to limited business combination period that we have, we may avoid searching for a target and completing an initial business combination that will be subject to Chinese cybersecurity review. Therefore, we may avoid searching for a company with one million personal information in China or a company operating critical information infrastructure in China.
Furthermore, if we were found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations in China during such review, we could be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings, fines, or service suspension. Therefore, cybersecurity review could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, the PRC Data Security Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 10, 2021 and takes effect on September 1, 2021, requires data collection to be conducted in a legitimate and proper manner, and stipulates that, for the purpose of data protection, data processing activities must be conducted based on data classification and hierarchical protection system for data security. After the Data Security Law takes effect, if our post-combination entity’s data processing activities were found to be not in compliance with this law, our post-combination entity could be ordered to make corrections, and under certain serious circumstances, such as severe data divulgence, we and post-combination entity could be subject to penalties, including the revocation of our business licenses or other permits. As a result, we and post-combination entity may be required to suspend our relevant businesses, shut down our website, take down our operating applications, or face other penalties, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Ifwe make equity compensation grants to persons who are PRC citizens, they may be required to register with the State Administration ofForeign Exchange of the PRC (“SAFE”). We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adoptequity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC laws.
On April 6, 2007, SAFE issued the “Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, also known as “Circular 78.” It is not clear whether Circular 78 covers all forms of equity compensation plans or only those which provide for the granting of shares options. For any plans which are so covered and are adopted by a non-PRC listed company, such as our company, after April 6, 2007, Circular 78 requires all participants who are PRC citizens to register with and obtain approvals from SAFE prior to their participation in the plan. In addition, Circular 78 also requires PRC citizens to register with SAFE and make the necessary applications and filings if they participated in an overseas listed company’s covered equity compensation plan prior to April 6, 2007. We believe that the registration and approval requirements contemplated in Circular 78 will be burdensome and time consuming.
Upon consummation of business combination with a target business with primary operations in PRC, we may adopt an equity incentive plan and make shares option grants under the plan to our officers, directors and employees, whom may be PRC citizens and be required to register with SAFE. If it is determined that any of our equity compensation plans are subject to Circular 78, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and participants of our equity incentive plan who are PRC citizens to fines and legal sanctions and prevent us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our employees and directors through equity compensation would be hindered and our business operations may be adversely affected.
Enhancedscrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursuein the future.
The PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of certain taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise by promulgating and implementing SAT Circular 59 and Circular 698, which became effective in January 2008, and a Circular 7 in replacement of some of the existing rules in Circular 698, which became effective in February 2015.
Under Circular 698, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC “resident enterprise” indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial purposes. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the relevant tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction.
In February 2015, the SAT issued Circular 7 to replace the rules relating to indirect transfers in Circular 698. Circular 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from that under Circular 698. Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers set forth under Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Circular 7 provides clearer criteria than Circular 698 on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise.
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We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences on future private equity financing transactions, share exchange or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed, under Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under SAT Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. Although we currently have no plans to pursue any acquisitions in China or elsewhere in the world, we may pursue acquisitions in the future that may involve complex corporate structures. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the PRC corporate income tax law and if the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under SAT Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, our income tax costs associated with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
TheChinese government may exert substantial interventions and influences over the manner in which our post-combination entity must conductits business activities that we cannot expect when we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company with major operation inChina. If the Chinese government establishes some new policies, regulations, rules, or laws in the industries where our post-combinationentity is in, our post-combination entity may subject to material change in its operations and the value of our Ordinary Shares.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. The Chinese government may intervene or influence the operations of a target business that we acquire at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities.
Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate in China may also be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. On July 24, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Guidelines for Further Easing the Burden of Excessive Homework and Off-campus Tutoring for Students at the Stage of Compulsory Education, pursuant to which foreign investment in such firms via mergers and acquisitions, franchise development, and variable interest entities are banned from this sector.
As such, the post-combination entity’s business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. The post-combination entity could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We and our post-combination entity may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
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Furthermore, recent statements by the Chinese government have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or over foreign investment in China-based issuers. Any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. It is uncertain when and whether we and our post-combination entity will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government and have not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our post-combination operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
PRClaws and regulations governing our post-combination entity’s business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, which may resultin a material change to our operations and the value of our shares if we complete our business combination with a target in China. Additionally,any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our post-combination entity’s business.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.
Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
From time to time, our post-combination entity may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection our post-combination entity enjoys than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we and our post-combination entity may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our post-combination entity’s ability to continue its operations.
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Changesin the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be quick with little advance notice and couldhave a significant impact upon our ability to operate profitably in the PRC.
Our post-combination entity may conduct most of our operations and most of our revenue is generated in the PRC. Accordingly, economic, political and legal developments in the PRC will significantly affect our post-combination entity’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government can have significant effects on economic conditions in the PRC and the ability of businesses to operate profitably. Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate profitably in the PRC may be adversely affected by changes in policies by the PRC government, including changes in laws, regulations or their interpretation, particularly those dealing with the Internet, including censorship and other restriction on material which can be transmitted over the Internet, security, intellectual property, money laundering, taxation and other laws that affect our post-combination entity’s ability to operate its business.
ChinaSecurities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conductedoverseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with the IPO andour business combination process, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. As a result, bothyou and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continueto offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. Since this document is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our future business combination with a company with major operation in China. Therefore, China Securities Regulatory Commission and other Chinese government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with the IPO and our business combination process, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. As a result, both you and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Thecash-flow structure of a post-acquisition company based in China or Hong Kong poses additional risks including, but not limited to, restrictionson foreign exchange and restrictions on our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors.
The PRC government also has significant authority to exert restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors that may apply if we acquire a company that is based in China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination. We will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments as current regulations in China would permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. See “—If we successfully consummate a business combinationwith a target business with primary operations in the PRC, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following consummationof our initial business combination.”
In addition, we may be subject to restrictions on currency exchange as the PRC government may limit or eliminate our ability to utilize cash generated in Renminbi, or RMB to fund our business activities outside of the PRC or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our securities, and may limit our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing. Should we choose to acquire a company in China, exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of the IPO to acquire a target company in PRC and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination. If we were to acquire a PRC company, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, our PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control in currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans to or capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
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These restrictions will restrict our ability to distribute earnings from our businesses, including subsidiaries, to the parent company and U.S. investors. In addition, fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us and may reduce the value of, and amount in U.S. Dollar of dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms.
As of the date of the Form 10-K, we have not pursued an initial business combination and there have not been any capital contribution or shareholder loans by us to any PRC entities, we do not yet have any subsidiaries, and (except as described in the Registration Statement), we have not received, declared or made any dividends or distributions.
The following illustrative table shows the post-business combination funds flow of the Company to the extent that the Company will acquire a company based in the PRC through direct equity investment. We will not consummate our initial business combination with an entity or business with China operations consolidated through a VIE structure.

Note:
| (1) | We<br> may transfer funds to the target (PRC-based operations company) through an increase in the registered capital of or a shareholder<br> loan to the target (PRC-based operations company). The target (PRC-based operations company) may in turn make distributions or pay<br> dividends to us. |
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ThePRC governmental authorities may take the view now or in the future that an approval from them is required for an overseas offering bya company affiliated with Chinese businesses or persons or a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operatingin China.
The M&A Rules include, among other things, provisions that purport to require that an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of an overseas listing of securities in a PRC company obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by special purpose vehicles seeking CSRC’s approval of overseas listings. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules and the CSRC approval requirement to offshore special purpose vehicles.
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Moreover, except for emphasizing the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies, the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021, also provides that the State Council will revise provisions regarding the overseas issuance and listing of shares by companies limited by shares and will clarify the duties of domestic regulatory authorities.
On December 24, 2021, the State Council published the draft Administrative Provisions on the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) (the “Administrative Provisions”), and the CSRC published the draft Measures for Record-filings of the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) (the “Administrative Measures”), for public comment. Pursuant to Article 2 of the Administrative Provisions, domestic enterprises that (i) offer shares, depository receipts, convertible notes or other equity securities overseas, or (ii) list securities on an overseas stock exchange, must complete record-filing procedures and report the relevant information to the CSRC. The CSRC shall determine the record-filing method. Pursuant to the Article 2 of the Administrative Measures, domestic enterprises that directly or indirectly offer or list securities on an overseas stock exchange shall file with the CSRC within three business days after submitting their initial public offering and/or listing application documents. The requested filing documents include but are not limited to: (1) a filing report and related undertakings; (2) regulatory opinions, filing or approval documents issued by the relevant authorities (if applicable); (3) security review opinions issued by the relevant authorities, if applicable; (4) a PRC legal opinion; and (5) a prospectus.
On December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOFCOM jointly promulgated the Special Administrative Measure (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2021 Version), or the Negative List, which became effective on January 1, 2022. According to Article 6 of the Negative List, domestic enterprises engaging in businesses in which foreign investment is prohibited shall obtain approval from the relevant authorities before offering and listing their shares on an overseas stock exchange. In addition, certain foreign investors shall not be involved in the operation or management of the relevant enterprise, and shareholding percentage restrictions under relevant domestic securities investment management regulations shall apply to such foreign investors.
Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations in effect at the time of the Form 10-K, no prior permission is required under the M&A Rules, the Opinions or the Negative List from any PRC governmental authorities (including the CSRC) for consummating the IPO by our company, given that: (a) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under the Registration Statement are subject to the M&A Rules; and (b) our company is a blank check company newly incorporated in Cayman Islands rather than China and currently the company conducts no business in China. However, there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules, the Opinions, or the Administrative Provisions and the Administrative Measures, if enacted, will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering or if we decide to consummate the business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China. If the CSRC or another PRC governmental authority subsequently determines that its approval is needed for the IPO, or a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, we may face approval delays, adverse actions or sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities. In any such event, these governmental authorities may delay the IPO or a potential business combination, impose fines and penalties, limit our operations in China, or take other actions that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities.
Additionally, on February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures supersede the Draft Rules and clarified and emphasized several aspects, which include but are not limited to: (1) comprehensive determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by PRC domestic companies” in compliance with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (a) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year comes from PRC domestic companies, and (b) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China; (2) exemptions from immediate filing requirements for issuers that (a) have already been listed or registered but not yet listed in foreign securities markets, including U.S. markets, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, (b) are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or the overseas stock exchange, and (c) whose such overseas securities offering or listing shall be completed before September 30, 2023, provided however that such issuers shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct refinancing or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC; (3) a negative list of types of issuers banned from listing or offering overseas, such as (a) issuers whose listing or offering overseas has been recognized by the State Council of the PRC as a possible threat to national security, (b) issuers whose affiliates have been recently convicted of bribery and corruption, (c) issuers under ongoing criminal investigations, and (d) issuers under major disputes regarding equity ownership; (4) issuers’ compliance with web security, data security, and other national security laws and regulations; (5) issuers’ filing and reporting obligations, such as the obligation to file with the CSRC after it submits an application for initial public offering to overseas regulators, and the obligation after offering or listing overseas to report to the CSRC material events including a change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer; and (6) the CSRC’s authority to fine both issuers and their shareholders between 1 and 10 million RMB for failure to comply with the Trial Measures, including failure to comply with filing obligations or committing fraud and misrepresentation.
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As of the date of the Form 10-K, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to the IPO from the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities.
Our company is a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We currently do not hold any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China. Therefore, we are not required to obtain any permission from any PRC governmental authorities to operate our business as currently conducted. If we decide to consummate our business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company’s business operations in China through its subsidiaries are subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.
Ifwe select a business combination target that operates in the PRC, the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”),the Cybersecurity Review Office (“CRO”), the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and/or other PRC authority may be requiredfor our initial business combination under PRC law.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”) requires overseas special purpose vehicles that are controlled by PRC companies or individuals formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies using shares of such special purpose vehicles or held by their shareholders as considerations to obtain the approval of the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. However, the application of the M&A Rules remains unclear. If CSRC approval is required for our initial business combination, it is uncertain whether it would be possible for us to obtain the approval. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining CSRC approval for our initial business combination would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies.
Additionally, on July 10, 2021, the Cybersecurity Administration of China (“CAC”) released a draft of the revised Cybersecurity Review Measures for public consultation until July 25, 2021 (the “2021 Measures”). The 2021 Measures apply to any business operator that holds the personal information of more than one million users when it intends to seek a foreign listing. Upon receipt of an application, if the CRO decides to conduct a review, the CRO will complete a preliminary review and send recommendations to a designated body of members of the network security review mechanism and certain government departments for further consideration. The CSRC has been added in the 2021 Measures to the list of mainland Chinese authorities that are to be involved in formulating the national network security review mechanism. This means that the CSRC can instruct the CRO to obtain approval from the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission to conduct a cybersecurity review of any proposed foreign public offering of a mainland Chinese operator where the capital markets regulator considers the listing affects or is likely to affect China’s national security. The proposed rules might impact the timetable of our initial business combination and the certainty of our initial business combination, if the target company we have identified is subject to the 2021 Measures or the final Cybersecurity Review Measures.
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Furtherregulations or regulatory actions in the PRC could affect the timetable and closing certainty of the IPO and/or our initial businesscombination.
Further, on July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council of the PRC jointly issued the “Opinion on Strictly Punishing Illegal Securities Activities according to Law” (《关于依法从严打击证券违法活动的意见》) (the “Opinion”). The Opinion specifies the target of upgrading the securities law-enforcement and judicial systems by 2022 and 2025, including effectively curbing the frequent occurrence of major illegal and criminal cases, as well as making notable advances in the transparency, standardization and credibility in the securities law-enforcement and judicial system. In particular, Clause 5 of the Opinion is entitled “Further Enhancing Cross-Border Regulatory Oversight, Enforcement and Judicial Cooperation.” The Opinion may require or facilitate further regulations or regulatory actions applicable to Chinese companies seeking to be listed overseas, including in the U.S., which regulations could be applicable to the IPO, our initial business combination or the target company we identify and impact the timetable and closing certainty of the IPO and/or our initial business combination.
TheM&A Rules and certain other People’s Republic of China regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinesecompanies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue an acquisition in China.
The M&A Rules and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOFCOM shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may acquire a complementary business. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Substantialuncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact our abilityto pursue an acquisition in China.
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaces the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in the PRC, namely, the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-Invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations and become the legal foundation for foreign investment in the PRC. Meanwhile, the Implementation Regulation of the Foreign Investment Law and the Measures for Reporting of Information on Foreign Investment came into effect as of January 1, 2020, which clarified and elaborated the relevant provisions of the Foreign Investment Law.
The Foreign Investment Law sets out the basic regulatory framework for foreign investments and proposes to implement a system of pre-entry national treatment with a negative list for foreign investments, pursuant to which (i) foreign entities and individuals are prohibited from investing in the areas that are not open to foreign investments, (ii) foreign investments in the restricted industries must satisfy certain requirements under the law, and (iii) foreign investments in business sectors outside of the negative list will be treated equally with domestic investments. The Foreign Investment Law also sets forth necessary mechanisms to facilitate, protect and manage foreign investments and proposes to establish a foreign investment information reporting system, through which foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises are required to submit initial report, report of changes, report of deregistration and annual report relating to their investments to the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, or its local branches.
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If,after our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets will be located in China and substantially all of our revenuewill be derived from our operations there, our results of operations and prospects and trading prices of our securities will be subject,to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in China as well as litigation andpublicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the United States.
The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of China could affect our business. The economies in Asia differ from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. For the most part, such economies have grown at a rate in excess of the United States; however, (1) such economic growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and (2) such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
We believe that litigation and negative publicity surrounding companies with operations in China that are listed in the United States have negatively impacted stock prices for these companies. Various equity-based research organizations have published reports on China-based companies after examining their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements, and these reports have led to special investigations and listing suspensions on U.S. national exchanges. Any similar scrutiny of our assets and operation, in China, if any, regardless of its lack of merit, could result in a diversion of management resources and energy, potential costs to defend ourselves against rumors, decreases and volatility in the trading price of our securities, and increased directors and officers insurance premiums and could have an adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
China’seconomic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a materialadverse effect on our business.
A substantial portion of our operations may be conducted in China, and a significant portion of our net revenues may be derived from customers where the contracting entity is located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and certain transactions we may undertake may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China.
China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Demand for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any slowdown in China’s economic growth may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our net revenues.
Although China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling the incurrence and payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations could adversely affect the economy in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce new measures that will have a negative effect on us. China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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Afterwe consummate a business combination in China, our operating company in China will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments.
After we consummate a business combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit our operating company in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our operating company in China will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if our operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.
Ifwe merge with a China-based operating company, then PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holdingcompanies and governmental control in currency conversion may delay or prevent us from making loans to or making additional capital contributionsto our PRC entity, if any, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability structured as a blank check company and may conduct our operations in China through a PRC entity. As permitted under PRC laws and regulations, we may make loans to our PRC entity subject to the approval from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC entity. Furthermore, loans by us to our PRC entity to finance its activities cannot exceed the difference between their respective total project investment amount and registered capital or 2.5 times of their net worth and capital contributions to our PRC entity will be subject to the requirement of making necessary filings in the Foreign Investment Comprehensive Management Information System and registration with other governmental authorities in China.
The SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to SAFE Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of bank loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether the SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. The SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to grant loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from the IPO, to our PRC entity, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, and the fact that the PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC entity or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC entity. If we merge with a China-based operating company, and if we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds from the IPO and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
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Ifwe successfully consummate a business combination with a target business with primary operations in the PRC, we will be subject to restrictionson dividend payments following consummation of our initial business combination.
After we consummate our initial business combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit our operating company in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations.
In addition, our operating company in China will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Each of our PRC subsidiaries as a foreign invested enterprise, is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at its discretion. Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if our operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.
In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated.
Governmentalcontrol of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenue effectively and affect the value of your investment.
Following our initial business combination with a PRC target company, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China.
Under PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Under existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from PRC subsidiaries in China may be used to pay dividends.
However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
PRC regulatory authorities could impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of the IPO in an initial business combination with a PRC target company and the use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.
Ifwe merge with a China-based operating company, then there are significant uncertainties under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law relatingto the withholding tax liabilities of the PRC entity, and dividends payable by the PRC entity to our offshore entity may not qualifyfor certain treaty benefits.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“PRC EIT Law”) and its implementation rules, if following our initial business combination we are a non-resident enterprise, that is, an enterprise lawfully incorporated pursuant to the laws of a foreign country (region) that has an office or premises established in China with no actual management functions performed in China, or an enterprise that has income derived from or accruing in China although it does not have an office or premises in China, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Under the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues regarding the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated on February 20, 2009, the taxpayer needs to satisfy certain conditions to utilize the benefits under a tax treaty. These conditions include: (1) the taxpayer must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends, and (2) the corporate shareholder to receive dividends from the PRC entity must have continuously met the direct ownership thresholds during the 12 consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends. Further, under Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which took effect on April 1, 2018, a “Beneficial Owner” shall mean a person who has ownership and control over the income and the rights and property from which the income is derived. To determine the “beneficial owner” status of a resident of the treaty counterparty who needs to take advantage of the tax treaty benefits, a comprehensive analysis shall be carried out, taking into account actual conditions of the specific case.
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Entitlement to a lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is subject to Announcement of State Taxation Administration on Promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Non-resident Taxpayers Enjoying Treaty Benefits, or Circular 35. Circular 35 provides that non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax. Instead, non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities.
In addition, in response to the persistent capital outflow in China and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE promulgated a series of capital control measures in early 2017, including stricter vetting procedures for domestic companies to remit foreign currency for overseas investments, dividends payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of us to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us following our initial business combination could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
PRCregulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficialowners or any future PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into any PRC subsidiaries, limitany PRC subsidiary’s ability to increase its registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affectus.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents’ Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75, which ceased to be effective upon the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37.
SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 applies to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may apply to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, must register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV must update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change.
If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities fail to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, any PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and any proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to any PRC subsidiaries. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015.
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Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
We have requested PRC residents who we know hold direct or indirect interests in us to make the necessary applications, filings and registrations as required under SAFE Circular 37. We believe that most of these shareholders have completed the initial foreign exchange registrations with relevant banks. However, these individuals may not continue to make required filings or updates in a timely manner, or at all.
We may not know the identities of all PRC residents holding direct or indirect interest in our company. Any failure or inability by such individuals to comply with SAFE regulations may subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, and limit any PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to us. As a result, our business and our ability to make distributions to you could be materially adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation have been evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
If we acquire a PRC domestic company, we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, may not obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Becausea majority of our executive officers and directors are located in or have significant ties to the PRC, you may face difficulties in protectingyour interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.
Our Chairperson of the Board, Yuk Man Lau, is a resident of Hong Kong and one of our directors, Guohan Li, is a resident of mainland China. As a result, legal claims against us or our executive officers and directors may be difficult or impossible for investors to pursue in U.S. courts. Moreover, even if an investor obtains a judgment in a U.S. court against one of our directors or officers, the investor may be unable to enforce such judgment on these directors and officers. It will equally be difficult to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside the PRC. PRC courts may only recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between the PRC and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. This is reflected in a number of bilateral treaties signed by the PRC, which provide that lack of jurisdiction of the judgment court can be a ground for refusal. Further, a foreign judgment cannot be recognized and enforced in the PRC if a Chinese court has rendered a judgment on the same subject matter or recognized and enforced another foreign judgment or arbitral award on the same subject matter. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. The PRC has no treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our executive officers or directors who are residents of the PRC, or to enforce judgments in the PRC (including Hong Kong and Macau) that are obtained in U.S. courts against us or such individuals, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. Even with proper service of process, the enforcement of judgments obtained in U.S. courts or foreign courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws would be extremely difficult given the PRC Civil Procedures Law and the lack of a treaty or principles of reciprocity providing for the recognition and enforcement of U.S. judgments. Furthermore, there would be added costs and issues with bringing an original action in foreign courts to enforce liabilities based on the U.S. federal securities laws against us or our officers and directors, and they still may be fruitless.
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Therecent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and the HFCAA all call for additional and morestringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S.auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.
On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in emerging markets, including China, and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in “Restrictive Market”, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of director for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”) requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the HFCAA. On December 18, 2020, the HFCAA was signed into law.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA from three years to two. If our auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the trading of our securities on any U.S. national securities exchanges, as well as any over-the-counter trading in the U.S., will be prohibited.
On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 16, 2021, the SEC announced that the PCAOB designated China and Hong Kong as the jurisdictions where the PCAOB is not allowed to conduct full and complete audit inspections as mandated under the HFCAA. The Company’s auditor is based in the United States and therefore is not affected by this mandate by the PCAOB.
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On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely, consistent with U.S. law. The Statement of Protocol gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. In addition, the Statement of Protocol grants the PCAOB direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates. While significant, uncertainties still exist as to how the Statement of Protocol will be implemented and whether the applicable parties will comply with the framework.
The lack of access to the PCAOB inspection in certain emerging markets prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of the auditors based in those emerging markets. As a result, the investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in certain emerging markets makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of these accounting firms’ audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of those emerging markets that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause existing and potential investors in our shares to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess our auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor is subject to inspection by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection report dated June 26, 2023. As such, as of the date of this Form 10-K, our auditor is not subject to the determinations announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. On December 29, 2022, the President Joseph Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which, among other things, amended the HFCAA to reduce the number of consecutive years an issuer can be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer before the SEC must impose an initial trading prohibition on the issuer’s securities from three years to two years. Therefore, once an issuer is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years, the SEC is required under the HCFAA to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter market. Our auditor is subject to inspection by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection report dated June 26, 2023. As such, as of the date of this Form 10-K, our auditor is not subject to the determinations announced by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 on December 29, 2022.
While the Company’s auditor is based in the U.S. and is registered with the PCAOB and subject to PCAOB inspection, it may later be determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely the Company’s auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction. In addition, if we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC and our new auditor is located in the PRC, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, the work of our new auditor as it relates to those operations may not inspected by the PCAOB. In either case, such lack of inspection could cause trading in the Company’s securities to be prohibited under the HFCAA, and ultimately result in a determination by a securities exchange to delist the Company’s securities. Furthermore, the recent developments would add uncertainties to our offering and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements. It remains unclear what the SEC’s implementation process related to the above rules will entail or what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address these issues and what impact those actions will have on U.S. companies that have significant operations in certain emerging markets and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national securities exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, the above amendments and any additional actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense and management time.
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GeneralRisk Factors
Unanticipatedchanges in our effective tax rate or challenges by tax authorities could harm our future results.
We may become subject to income taxes in various other jurisdictions in the future. Our effective tax rate could be adversely affected by changes in the allocation of our pre-tax earnings and losses among countries with differing statutory tax rates, in certain non-deductible expenses as a result of acquisitions, in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or in federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax laws and accounting principles, including increased tax rates, new tax laws or revised interpretations of existing tax laws and precedents. Increases in our effective tax rate would adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we may be subject to income tax audits by various tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The application of tax laws in such jurisdictions may be subject to diverging and sometimes conflicting interpretations by tax authorities in these jurisdictions. Although we believe our income tax liabilities are reasonably estimated and accounted for in accordance with applicable laws and principles, an adverse resolution of one or more uncertain tax positions in any period could have a material impact on the results of operations for that period.
Becausewe are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability toprotect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs and the rights of shareholders are governed by our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not clearly established as what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the U.S. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the U.S., and certain states, such as Delaware, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a Federal court of the United States.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that it is uncertain whether the courts of the Cayman Islands will allow shareholders of our company to originate actions in the Cayman Islands based upon securities laws of the U.S. In addition, there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law related to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. If such determination is made, the courts of the Cayman Islands will not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman Islands company, such as our company. As the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on making such a determination in relation to judgments obtained from U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws, it is uncertain whether such judgments would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits of the underlying dispute based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, was not obtained by fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). The courts of the Cayman Islands will apply the rules of Cayman Islands private international law to determine whether the foreign court is a court of competent jurisdiction.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the Board of Directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
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Changesin laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and resultsof operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued the SPAC Rule Proposals relating, among other items, to disclosures in business combination transactions between SPACs such as us and private operating companies; the condensed financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. Certain of the procedures that we, a Business Combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs of negotiating and completing a Business Combination and the time required to consummate a transaction, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete a Business Combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Proposed Rules may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose. Were we to liquidate, our shareholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.
TheSEC has adopted new rules relating to certain activities of SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential business combinationtarget or others may determine to undertake in connection with such rules may increase our costs and the time needed to complete ourinitial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination. The needfor compliance with the SPAC Final Rules may cause us to liquidate the funds in the trust account or liquidate at an earlier time thanwe might otherwise choose.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC issued new rules (the “SPAC Final Rules”), effective as of July 1, 2024, that formally adopted some of the proposed rules for SPACs that were released on March 30, 2022, relating, among other things, to disclosures in SEC filings in connection with initial public offerings by SPACs; business combination transactions between SPACs such as us and private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Final Rules, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Final Rules, may increase the costs and time of negotiating and completing an initial business combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Final Rules may cause us to liquidate the funds in the trust account or liquidate at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose. Were we to liquidate, our Private Placement Units and Rights would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.
Weare an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage ofcertain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies, this could makeour securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Ifwe are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirementsand our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
| ● | restrictions<br> on the nature of our investments; and |
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| ● | restrictions<br> on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination. |
| ● | In<br> addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including: |
| ● | registration<br> as an investment company; |
| ● | adoption<br> of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| ● | reporting,<br> record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The IPO is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a business combination; (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to modify (A) the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent a business combination, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the Public Shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account couldbe reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
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Complianceobligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination, require substantialfinancial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2024. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Provisionsin our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investorsmight be willing to pay in the future for our Ordinary Shares and could entrench management.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that shareholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Wemay not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay theopportunity for our shareholders to elect directors.
In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to appoint directors. Until we hold an annual general meeting, public shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. In addition, as holders of our Ordinary Shares, our public shareholders will not have the right to vote on the appointment of directors until after the consummation of our initial business combination. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the management of our company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
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Wehave identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. If our remediation of such material weaknessesis not effective, or if we identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to develop and maintain effectiveinternal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicablelaws and regulations could be impaired.
In preparing our financial statements for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the SEC guidelines for public companies. The material weakness identified relates to ineffective review controls over the financial statement preparation process regarding recording of accrued expenses, including proper cut off procedures. This was identified through errors that were identified and corrected during our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm review of the draft financial statements prior to filing. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material weakness. These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. If we identify any new material weaknesses in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
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Not applicable.
| ITEM 1C. | CYBERSECURITY |
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We are a SPAC with no business operations. Since our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates. Therefore, we do not consider that we face significant cybersecurity risk and have not adopted any cybersecurity risk management program or formal processes for assessing cybersecurity risk. Our board of directors is generally responsible for the oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats, if there is any. We have not encountered any cybersecurity incidents since our IPO.
| Item 2. | propertIES |
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We currently maintain our executive offices at 420 Lexington Ave Suite 2446, New York, NY 10170. The cost for our use of this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee we will pay to TenX Global Capital LP for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings |
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None.
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
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Not applicable.
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PART
II
| Item 5. | Market For Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
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MarketInformation
Our Units, Ordinary Shares, and Rights are each traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “BAYAU,” “BAYA,” and “BAYAR,” respectively. Our Units commenced public trading on December 15, 2023, and our Ordinary Shares and Rights commenced separate trading on December 28, 2023.
Holders
As of March 31, 2025 we had 3 holders of record of our Ordinary Shares, 3 holders of record of our Units and 1 holder of record of our Rights.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time and we will only pay such dividend out of our profits or share premium (subject to solvency requirements) as permitted under Cayman Islands Law. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
SecuritiesAuthorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
UnregisteredSale of Equity Securities
On February 23, 2023, our Sponsor, Bayview Holding LP acquired 1,437,500 Founder Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, of which Bayview Holding LP owns 474,375 Ordinary Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited owns 963,125 Ordinary Shares. On December 14, 2023, the Company issued an additional 287,500 Founder Shares for consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 Founder Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 Founder Shares as of the date of the Registration Statement. On January 28, 2024, 225,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsors were forfeited because the underwriters did not exercise their over-allotment.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, pursuant to a Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company completed the private sale of 232,500 Private Placement Units to the Sponsors at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit generating gross proceeds to the Company of $2,325,000. The Private Placement Units are identical to the Units sold in the IPO. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sale. The issuance of the Private Placement Units was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Useof Proceeds
On December 19, 2023, the Company consummated the initial public offering of 6,000,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $60,000,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering, we consummated the sale of 232,500 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $2,325,000.
On February 23, 2023, we issued an unsecured promissory note to our Sponsors (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which we received proceeds of $300,000 to cover expenses related to the initial public offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023, or (ii) the consummation of the IPO. The Promissory Note expired after the consummation of the IPO.
Transaction costs related to the issuances described above amounted to $4,341,321, consisting of $1,200,000 of cash underwriting fees, $2,100,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $1,041,321 of other offering costs. After deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, the total net proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units $60,000,000 (or $10.00 per share sold in the initial public offering) was placed in the Trust Account.
Redemptions
In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Agreement Amendment Proposal at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on September 16, 2024, the holders of 2,290,989 Ordinary Shares properly exercised their rights to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.39 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $23,803,376.
| Item 6. | [Reserved] |
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Referencesto the “Company,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Bayview Acquisition Corp. The followingdiscussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the auditedfinancial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-lookingstatements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors.Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual resultsmay differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forthunder “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors”and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on February 16, 2023, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout the Registration Statement as our initial business combination. We have generated no revenues to date, and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues at the earliest until we consummate our initial business combination.
Resultsof Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since February 16, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2024, have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering (the “IPO”) described below and identifying a target company and completing the initial Business Combination. Following our IPO, we would not generate any operating revenues until the completion of our initial business combination. We would generate non-operating income in the form of interest income after the IPO. We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for business combination expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had net income of $1,752,975, which primarily consisted of interest earned on marketable securities held in trust account and bank interest income of $2,780,145, offset by formation and operating costs of $1,027,170.
For period from February 17, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, we had net income of $107,055, which primarily consisted of investment income from the trust account.
Liquidityand Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of the IPO through the capital contribution from our sponsor of $25,100 to purchase the founder shares, and up to $300,000 in loans available from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. The promissory note expired after the consummation of the IPO.
On December 19, 2023, we consummated our IPO of 6,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $60,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the sale of 232,500 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $2,325,000. Following the closing of the IPO, an amount of $60,000,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the Private Placement was held in a trust account. The funds held in the trust account may be invested in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by us.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less amounts released to us for taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes, if any. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest income earned on the amount in the trust account (if any) will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of December 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalent balance was $93,620. We will use these funds primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our founders or an affiliate of our founders may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $300,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital units, at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The working capital units would be identical to the Private Placement Units, each consisting of one ordinary share and one right with the same exercise price, exercisability and exercise period, subject to similar limited restrictions as compared to the units sold in the IPO. The terms of such loans by our founders or their affiliates, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our founders or an affiliate of our founders as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account, but in the event that we seek loans from any third parties, we will obtain a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $200,000 in legal, accounting, due diligence and other fees in connection with the business combination; $100,000 in legal and accounting related to regulatory reporting obligations, $120,000 for office space, administrative and support services, $55,000 in NASDAQ continued listing fees and $100,000 for miscellaneous expenses, including director and officer’s liability insurance, general corporate purposes, liquidation obligations and reserves.
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
Quantitativeand Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
RelatedParty Transactions
Please refer to Financial Statements Note 5 – Related Parties.
Off-BalanceSheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of December 31, 2024, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in the Registration Statement, as we have conducted no operations to date.
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JOBSAct
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company”, we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of the IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
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We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
| Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
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This information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. |
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None.
| Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures |
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Evaluationof Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Evaluationof Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, due solely to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s lack of qualified SEC reporting professional. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented. Management intends to continue implement remediation steps to improve our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we intend to expand and improve our review process for complex securities and related accounting standards. We have improved this process by enhancing access to accounting literature, identification of third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals.
We believe, however, that a controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls systems are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud or error, if any, within a company have been detected.
Management’sReport on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changesin Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 9B. | Other Information |
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None.
| Item 9C. | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections |
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Not applicable.
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PART
III
| Item 10. | Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
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Directorsand Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:
| Name | Age | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Yuk<br> Man Lau | 69 | Chairperson |
| Xin<br> Wang | 46 | Chief<br> Executive Officer and Director |
| David<br> Bamper | 55 | Chief<br> Financial Officer and Director |
| Wei<br> Lu | 62 | Director |
| Guohan<br> Li | 43 | Director |
| John<br> DeVito | 56 | Director |
XinWang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, has served as Venture Partner of Bohai Harvest RST (Shanghai) Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd., since January 2015. Previously, Ms. Wang was an associate at two international law firms. Ms. Wang has also served as a director of Atomic47 since April 2019. Ms. Wang received her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from McGill University and a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Ms. Wang was selected to serve as a director due to her experience in the private equity space and in law.
DavidBamper, our Chief Financial Officer, has overseen the accounting operations, financial planning and analysis and tax functions at Heya Wellness since January 2024. From January 2016 to December 2023, Mr. Bamper served as the Chief Financial Officer at Lineup Media Group and Atomic 47. Atomic 47 owns and operated ePlata USA, a digital wallet and online payment platform. Lineup Media Group owns Ultimate Gaming Championship, which operates an online platform for eSports. Prior to joining Lineup Media Group, from April 2003 to August 2015, David served as chief financial officer at Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs law firms. David earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accountancy from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and is a certified public accountant. Mr. Bamper was selected to serve as a director due to his experience in the financial services industry.
YukMan Lau, our chairperson, has served as Partner at Guoxing Capital Co., Ltd since 2016 and as General Manager of Oriental Infinite Culture Communication Co., Ltd since 2006 to 2016. Ms. Lau previously served as a director of Longevity Acquisition Corp from January 2020 to October 2020. Ms. Lau received her Bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Dalian University. Ms. Lau was selected to serve as a director due to her experience in the private equity industry.
WeiLu, our director, is an established expert in computer systems engineering and development for more than 30 years. He has been the founder and CEO of A&E Systems Consulting since 1999, which develops in-house Relational Database Management System applications for various organizations to manage their daily operations, as well as provides information technology services to many companies supporting their business functions involving internet/intranet, hardware, software, network security, and training. Mr. Lu also served as a partner and managing director of technology from 2005 to 2023 for WiFiche Ltd., which delivers digitized microfiche contents (EPC, electronic part catalog) to independent powersport dealerships/repair shops. He was a vice president of operations for Goldline Software from 1995 to 1999, leading the development of Service Manager, a Windows 32bit business solution for Lawn Care and Pest Controls industry, to manage services, contracts, invoices, routes and schedules using Visual Basic, Microsoft Access, Crystal Reports, Visio, etc. Mr. Lu holds certificates of Microsoft Certified Database Administrator and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer. Mr. Lu was selected to serve as a director due to his experience in the computer science and information technology industry.
GuohanLi, our director, is an experienced professional with over ten years of experience in accounting and auditing. Mr. Li has served as Partner of Shenzhen Yida Certified Public Accountants Co., Ltd. And Shenzhen Yida Shanhe Certified Public Tax Agent Co. Ltd. Since 2011. From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Li served as a Senior Manager of Shenzhen Zhengda Huaming Accounting Firm. Mr. Li received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Shenzhen University. Mr. Li is a CICPA charter holder. Mr. Li was selected to serve as a director due to his experience in the public accounting industry.
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JohnDeVito, our director, has served as Proprietary Trader at T3 Trading Group since 2018 where is manages all aspects of multi-strategy long-short, option portfolio using in depth research. Prior to joining T3 Trading Group, Mr. DeVito served as a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management from 2015 to November 2017. Mr. DeVito received his Bachelor’s degree from Saint John’s University. Mr. DeVito was selected to serve as a director due to his experience in the financial services industry.
Numberand Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
We have six directors as of the date of this Form 10-K. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of shareholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of John DeVito, will expire at our first annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Xin Wang, David Bamper and Wei Lu, will expire at the second annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Yuk Man Lau and Guohan Li, will expire at the third annual meeting of shareholders. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to elect directors. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after we consummate our initial business combination.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association as it deems appropriate. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association will provide that our officers may consist of one or more Chairmen of the Board, one or more Chief Executive Officers, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
DirectorIndependence
NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that each of John DeVito, We Lu, Yuk Man Lau and Guohan Li are “independent directors” as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our audit committee will be entirely composed of independent directors meeting NASDAQ’s additional requirements applicable to members of the audit committee. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officerand Director Compensation
None of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Other than as described above and elsewhere in Form 10-K, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our founders or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination although we may consider cash or other compensation to officers or advisors we may hire subsequent to the IPO to be paid either prior to or in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, our officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our founders or their affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
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Following a business combination, to the extent we deem it necessary, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management team of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Committeesof the Board of Directors
Our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NASDAQ and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of NASDAQ require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
AuditCommittee
Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we established an audit committee of the board of directors. Wei Lu, John DeVito and Guohan Li serve as members of our audit committee, with Guohan Li serving as the Chairman of the audit committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. Each such person meets the independent director standard under NASDAQ listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Guohan Li qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
| ● | the<br> appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent<br> registered public accounting firm engaged by us; |
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| ● | pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services<br> to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval<br> policies and procedures; |
| --- | --- |
| ● | reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors<br> all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence; |
| --- | --- |
| ● | setting clear hiring policies for employees or former<br> employees of the independent auditors; |
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| ● | setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in<br> compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
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| ● | obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually,<br> from the independent auditors describing (i) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures and (ii) any material<br> issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation<br> by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out<br> by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues; |
| --- | --- |
| ● | reviewing and approving any related party transaction<br> required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction;<br> and |
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| ● | reviewing with management, the independent auditors,<br> and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators<br> or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements<br> or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards<br> Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
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CompensationCommittee
Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we established a compensation committee of the board of directors. Wei Lu, John DeVito and Guohan Li serve as members of our compensation committee, with Wei Lu serving as the chairman of the compensation committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. Each such person meets the independent director standard under NASDAQ listing standards applicable to members of the compensation committee.
We adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
| ● | reviewing<br> and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation,<br> evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the<br> remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
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| ● | reviewing<br> and approving on an annual basis the compensation of all of our other officers; |
| --- | --- |
| ● | reviewing<br> on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans; |
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| ● | implementing<br> and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
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| ● | assisting<br> management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
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| ● | approving<br> all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees; |
| --- | --- |
| ● | if<br> required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
| --- | --- |
| ● | reviewing,<br> evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to complete the consummation of a business combination although we may consider cash or other compensation to officers or advisors we may hire subsequent to the IPO to be paid either prior to or in connection with our initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.
DirectorNominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the NASDAQ Rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, our board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our shareholders.
CompensationCommittee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, and in the past year have not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Codeof Ethics
Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We filed a copy of our Code of Ethics and our audit and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the Registration Statement. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Conflictsof Interest
Except as disclosed herein, we do not believe any conflict currently exists between us and our founders, and affiliates of our founders may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If such entities decide to pursue an opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunity. In addition, investment ideas generated within our founders may be suitable for both us and for an affiliate of founders and may be directed to such entity rather than to us. Neither our founders nor members of our management team who are also employed by or affiliated with our founders will have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the company. Our founders and/or our management team, in their capacities as employees or affiliates of our founders or in their other endeavors, may be required to present potential business combinations to future founders’ affiliates or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present business combination opportunities to such entity. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We do not believe, however, that any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers arising in the future would materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
Our founders, including Yuk Man Lau, Xin Wang and David Bamper may not become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act before we enter into a binding agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO.
Our founders and management may also purchase public units or shares during the IPO, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. During the offering, if any founders participates in the offering as an anchor investor, they may receive incentives which offer greater economic benefits than those available to public investors in the offering. In addition, in order to incentivize the participation of certain potential anchor investors, our Sponsors may offer or share its economics in certain of our securities with such potential anchor investors, the net effect of which could be to provide greater economic benefit to such potential anchor investors than that provided to other investors in the offering.
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Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
| ● | None<br> of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest<br> in allocating his or her time among various business activities. |
|---|---|
| ● | Our<br> founders, including Yuk Man Lau, Xin Wang and David Bamper may not become an officer or director of any other SPACs before we enter<br> into a binding agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination<br> within 18 months from the closing of the IPO; as a<br> result, our officers or directors may present a potential target to our competitor that would had been presented to us or devote<br> time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. |
| --- | --- |
| ● | In<br> the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities<br> which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management may<br> have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
| --- | --- |
| ● | Our<br> Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares, private shares and any Public<br> Shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, our Initial Shareholders<br> have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and private shares held by them if we fail to consummate<br> our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of the IPO. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds<br> of the sale of the Private Placement Units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our Public Shares, and<br> the Private Placement Units and underlying securities will be worthless. With certain limited exceptions, 50% of the Founder Shares<br> and Private Placement Units (and underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable by our founders until the earlier to<br> occur of: (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or (B) the date on which the closing<br> price of our Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and<br> recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and<br> the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Units (and underlying securities) may not be transferred, assigned<br> or sold until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier, in either case, if,<br> subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction<br> which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Since<br> members of our management may directly or indirectly own Ordinary Shares and Rights following the IPO, our officers and directors<br> may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to complete<br> our initial business combination. |
| --- | --- |
| ● | Our<br> officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention<br> or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect<br> to our initial business combination. |
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| ● | Our<br> founders may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a business combination and financing arrangements as we may obtain<br> loans from our founders or an affiliate of our founders to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business<br> combination. Up to $500,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option<br> of the lender. Such working capital units would be identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement. |
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The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
| ● | the<br> corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; |
|---|---|
| ● | the<br> opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and |
| --- | --- |
| ● | it<br> would not be fair to our company and its shareholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation. |
| --- | --- |
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our founders or any affiliate of them, subject to certain approvals and consents. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our shareholders for a vote, our Initial Shareholders have agreed to vote any Founder Shares and private shares held by them and any Public Shares purchased during the offering in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitationon Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We entered into agreements with our directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. We expect to purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.
Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of Public Shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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| Item 11. | Executive Compensation |
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ExecutiveCompensation
None of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Other than as described above and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our founders or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination although we may consider cash or other compensation to officers or advisors we may hire subsequent to the IPO to be paid either prior to or in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, our officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our founders or their affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
Following a business combination, to the extent we deem it necessary, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management team of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
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| --- | --- |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by them. The following includes record or beneficial ownership of the 232,500 private shares underlying the Private Placement Units held by the Sponsors.
The following table is based on 5,441,511 Ordinary Shares outstanding at March 31, 2025. Unless otherwise indicated, it is believed that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by them.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner^(1)^ | Number<br> of Shares Beneficially Owned | Approximate<br> Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Share | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peace Investment<br> Holdings Limited^(2)^ | 1,160,775 | 21.3 | % | ||
| Bayview Holding LP^(3)^ | 571,725 | 10.5 | % | ||
| Xin Wang | — | — | |||
| David Bamper | — | — | |||
| Wei Lu | — | — | |||
| John DeVito | — | — | |||
| Guohan Li | — | — | |||
| Yuk Man Lau | — | — | |||
| All executive officers and<br> directors as a group (8 individuals) | 1,732,500 | 31.8 | % | ||
| First Trust Merger Arbitrage<br> Fund ^(4)^ | 654,276 | 12.0 | % | ||
| Harraden Circle Investments,<br> LLC^(5)^ | 544,150 | 10.0 | % | ||
| Kerry Propper ^(6)^ | 394,312 | 7.2 | % | ||
| Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.^(7)^ | 513,500 | 9.4 | % | ||
| W.R. Berkley Corporation^(8)^ | 283,483 | 5.2 | % | ||
| (1) | Unless<br> otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Bayview Acquisition Corp, 420 Lexington<br> Ave, Suite 2446 New York NY 10170. | ||||
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| (2) | Peace<br> Investment Holdings Limited, one of our two co-Sponsors, is the record holder of the Founder Shares and private shares reported herein.<br> Peace Investment Holdings Limited is wholly owned by Pengfei Zheng, who is, accordingly, deemed to be the beneficial owner of such<br> shares. | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| (3) | Bayview<br> Holding LP, one of our two co-Sponsors, is the record holder of the Founder Shares reported herein. Bayview Holding LP’s dispositive<br> and voting power is held by Bayview Holding Management, LLC, which is in turn wholly owned by Taylor Zhang, who is, accordingly,<br> deemed to be the beneficial owners of such shares. | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| (4) | According<br> to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024 by First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund (“VARBX”), First Trust<br> Capital Management L.P. (“FTCM”), First Trust Capital Solutions L.P. (“FTCS”) and FTCS Sub GP LLC (“Sub<br> GP”), as of September 30, 2024, VARBX owned 320,086 shares of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, while FTCM, FTCS<br> and Sub GP collectively owned 334,190 shares of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Issuer. | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| (5) | According<br> to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on November 13, 2024, by Harraden Circle Investors, LP (“Harraden Fund”), Harraden<br> Circle Special Opportunities, LP (“Harraden Special Op Fund”), Harraden Circle Investors GP, LP (“Harraden GP”),<br> Harraden Circle Investors GP, LLC (“Harraden LLC”), Harraden Circle Investments, LLC (“Harraden Adviser”),<br> and Frederick V. Fortmiller, Jr. (“Mr. Fortmiller”), as of September 30, 2024, (i) Harraden Adviser and Mr. Fortmiller<br> owned shared voting and dispositive power of 544,150 Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, (ii) Harraden GP and Harraden LLC owned shared<br> voting and dispositive power of 492,045 Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, (iii) Harraden Fund owned shared voting and dispositive power<br> of 354,727 Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, and (iv) Harraden Special Op Fund owned shared voting and dispositive power of 137,318<br> Ordinary Shares of the Issuer. The principal business office of each reporting person is 299 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY<br> 10171. | ||||
| (6) | According<br> to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 12, 2024, by Kerry Propper and Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez, as of September 30, 2024,<br> the Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, some of which are held in the form of Units, are held by private funds managed by registered investment<br> advisers whose managing members are Kerry Propper and Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez. | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| (7) | According<br> to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025, by Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (“Mizuho”), as of December<br> 31, 2024, Mizuho owned 513,500 shares of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Issuer. Mizuho’s principal business address<br> is 1-5-5, Otemachi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 100-8176, Japan. | ||||
| (8) | According<br> to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on November 6, 2024, by W.R. Berkley Corporation and Berkley Insurance Company, as of September<br> 30, 2024, the reporting persons had shared voting and dispositive power of 283,483 Ordinary Shares of the Issuer. The principal address<br> of the reporting persons is 475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT 06830. |
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| Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
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FounderShares
On February 23, 2023, our Sponsors acquired an aggregate of 1,437,500 Ordinary Shares (up to 187,500 shares of which were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised), of which Bayview Holding LP owns 474,375 Ordinary Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited owns 963,125 Ordinary Shares. On December 14, 2023, the Company issued an additional 287,500 Founder Shares for consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 Founder Shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 Founder Shares as of the date of the Registration Statement. On January 28, 2024, 225,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsors were forfeited because the underwriters did not exercise their over-allotment. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,100 by our Sponsors, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of Founder Shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such Founder Shares would represent approximately 25% of the outstanding shares upon completion of our Initial Public Offering (excluding the private shares and shares underlying the UPO).
PrivatePlacement
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, our Sponsors purchased an aggregate of 232,500 Private Placement Units for a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one ordinary share and one right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one ordinary share upon the completion of an initial business combination. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the expected timeframe, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Units will expire worthless.
ServiceArrangements
On December 14, 2023, we entered into an administrative services agreement with TenX Global Capital LP, pursuant to which TenX Global Capital LP agreed to make available to the Company certain general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative services, as the Company may require from time to time. The Company has agreed to pay TenX Global Capital LP $10,000 per month for such administrative services. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an administration fee of $120,000.
Conflictsof Interest
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities including other special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our management team is continuously made aware of potential investment opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination.
PromissoryNote - Related Party
On February 23, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsors (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate of $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023, or (ii) the consummation of the IPO. On the date of closing of the IPO, no amounts were outstanding under the Promissory Note and the Promissory Note then expired.
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RegistrationRights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, securities underlying the UPO, Units issuable upon the conversion of certain working capital loans and any underlying securities will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
RelatedParty Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions.
Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we adopted a code of ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our code of ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. A form of the code of ethics that we adopted prior to the consummation of the IPO is filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we adopted prior to the consummation of the IPO, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. A form of the audit committee charter that we adopted prior to the consummation of the IPO is filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our founders unless we, or a committee of independent directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. Furthermore, no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments will be made to our founders, existing officers, directors or advisors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination although we may consider cash or other compensation to officers or advisors we may hire subsequent to the IPO to be paid either prior to or in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, the following payments will be made to our founders or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of the IPO held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
| ● | Repayment<br> to an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor; |
|---|---|
| ● | Reimbursement<br> for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and |
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| ● | Repayment<br> of loans which may be made by our founders or an affiliate of our founders to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended<br> initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect<br> thereto. Up to $300,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital units, at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option<br> of the lender. Such working capital units are identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement. |
| --- | --- |
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our founders or their affiliates.
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DirectorIndependence
NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that each of John DeVito, Wei Lu, Yuk Man Lau and Guohan Li are “independent directors” as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our audit committee is composed of independent directors meeting NASDAQ’s additional requirements applicable to members of the audit committee. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present
| Item 14. | Principal Accounting Fees and Services. |
|---|
The firm of UHY LLP, or UHY, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to UHY for services rendered.
AuditFees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by UHY in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by UHY for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023 totaled $144,115 and $85,000, respectively.
Audit-RelatedFees. Audit-related services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees”. The aggregate fee billed by UHY for the professional services rendered for the review of our registration statements and other regulatory documents filed with SEC for the year ended 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023 totaled $65,501 and $82,475.
TaxFees. We did not pay UHY for tax planning and tax advice for the year ended 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024.
AllOther Fees. We did not pay UHY for other services for the year ended 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024.
Pre-ApprovalPolicy
Our Audit Committee was formed upon the consummation of our IPO. As a result, the Audit Committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our Audit Committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our Audit Committee, and on a going-forward basis, the Audit Committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit).
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(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
Financial Statements: See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” herein and “Index to Financial Statements” and financial statements incorporated by reference herein commencing below.
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Cayman Islands, on April 1, 2025.
| BAYVIEW ACQUISITION CORP | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Xin Wang |
| Name: | Xin<br> Wang |
| Title: | Chief<br> Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|
| /s/ Yuk Man Lau | Chairperson | April 1, 2025 |
| Yuk<br> Man Lau | ||
| /s/ Xin Wang | Chief<br>Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | April 1, 2025 |
| Xin<br> Wang | and Director | |
| /s/ David Bamper | Chief<br> Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | April 1, 2025 |
| David<br> Bamper | and<br> Director |
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Index
to Financial Statements
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB #1195) | F-2 |
| Financial<br> Statements: | |
| Balance Sheets | F-3 |
| Statements of Operations | F-4 |
| Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit | F-5 |
| Statements of Cash Flows | F-6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | F-7 |
| F-1 |
| --- |
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of Bayview Acquisition Corp
Opinionon the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Bayview Acquisition Corp (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
SubstantialDoubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans and the Company’s cash and working capital are not sufficient to complete its planned activities one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1 to the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.
Basisfor Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
UHY LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
New York, New York
April 1, 2025
| F-2 |
| --- |
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
BALANCE
SHEETS
| December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||||
| Cash | 93,620 | 582,308 | |||
| Prepaid expenses | 31,347 | 72,014 | |||
| Total<br> Current Assets | 124,967 | 654,322 | |||
| Prepaid expenses – non-current | - | 29,677 | |||
| Investments<br> held in trust account | 39,582,820 | 60,107,055 | |||
| Total<br> Assets | 39,707,787 | 60,791,054 | |||
| LIABILITIES<br> AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | |||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||
| Accrued<br> expenses | 634,060 | 303,759 | |||
| Promissory note – extension | 500,000 | - | |||
| Payable to target | 86,833 | - | |||
| Due to related party | 60,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Total<br> Current Liabilities | 1,280,893 | 313,759 | |||
| Deferred<br> underwriting commission payable | 2,100,000 | 2,100,000 | |||
| Total<br> Liabilities | 3,380,893 | 2,413,759 | |||
| Commitments<br> and contingencies (Note 6) | - | - | |||
| Ordinary shares subject to<br> possible redemption (3,709,011 and 6,000,000 shares at redemption value of 10.67 and 10.00 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | 39,582,820 | 60,107,055 | |||
| Shareholders’<br> Deficit: | |||||
| Preferred shares, 0.0001<br> par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding | - | - | |||
| Ordinary<br> shares, 0.0001 par<br> value; 200,000,000 shares<br> authorized; 1,732,500 and<br> 1,725,000 (1)<br> shares issued and outstanding (excluding 3,709,011<br> and 6,000,000<br> shares subject to possible redemption) at<br> December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | 173 | 196 | |||
| Additional paid-in capital | - | - | |||
| Accumulated<br> Deficit | (3,256,099 | ) | (1,729,956 | ) | |
| Total<br> Shareholders’ Deficit | (3,255,926 | ) | (1,729,760 | ) | |
| Total<br> Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit | 39,707,787 | 60,791,054 |
All values are in US Dollars.
| (1) | Includes an aggregate of up to 225,000 founder shares subject to forfeiture if<br>the remaining over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. On December 14, 2023, additional 287,500 shares<br>were issued to the Sponsors for a consideration of $100. On December 26, 2023, the payment of $100 was initiated by the related<br>party to the Company and received on December 27, 2023. The issuance was considered as a nominal issuance, in substance a recapitalization<br>transaction, which was recorded and presented retroactively as of December 19, 2023. (see Note 5 and 7). |
|---|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| F-3 |
| --- |
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS
| For the year<br><br> <br>ended<br> <br>December 31, 2024 | For the period from February<br><br> <br>16, 2023 (inception) through<br> <br>December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formation<br> and operating costs | $ | 1,027,170 | $ | 21,539 | ||
| Loss<br> from operations | (1,027,170 | ) | (21,539 | ) | ||
| Other income: | ||||||
| Bank interest income | 1,004 | - | ||||
| Interest<br> and dividend earned on securities held in trust account | 2,779,141 | 107,055 | ||||
| Total<br> other income | 2,780,145 | 107,055 | ||||
| Net<br> income | $ | 1,752,975 | $ | 85,516 | ||
| Basic and diluted weighted<br> average ordinary shares outstanding, redeemable ordinary shares | 5,417,863 | 244,514 | ||||
| Basic and diluted net income<br> per share, redeemable ordinary shares | $ | 0.39 | $ | 23.63 | ||
| Basic and diluted weighted<br> average ordinary shares outstanding, non-redeemable ordinary shares | 1,749,098 | 1,463,197 | ||||
| Basic and diluted net loss<br> per share, non-redeemable ordinary shares | $ | (0.21 | ) | $ | (3.89 | ) |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| F-4 |
| --- |
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
STATEMENTS
OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit) | Deficit | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary<br> Shares | Additional<br> <br>Paid-in | Accumulated | Total<br> Shareholders’ | ||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | |||||||||||
| Balance on February 16, 2023 (inception) | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| Issuance of ordinary<br> shares to Sponsors | 1,437,500 | 144 | 24,856 | - | 25,000 | ||||||||||
| Additional issuances to Sponsors | 287,500 | 29 | 71 | - | 100 | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of public<br> units | 6,000,000 | 600 | 59,999,400 | - | 60,000,000 | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of private<br> placement | 232,500 | 23 | 2,324,977 | - | 2,325,000 | ||||||||||
| Sale of Unit Purchase Option | - | - | 283,000 | - | 283,000 | ||||||||||
| Underwriter’s commission<br> on sale of Public Units | - | - | (1,200,000 | ) | - | (1,200,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Deferred Underwriter’s<br> commissions | - | - | (2,100,000 | ) | - | (2,100,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Transfer of other offering<br> costs to APIC | - | - | (1,041,321 | ) | - | (1,041,321 | ) | ||||||||
| Initial measurement of Ordinary<br> shares Subject to redemption under ASC 480-10-S99 against additional paid-in capital | (6,000,000 | ) | (600 | ) | (57,539,400 | ) | - | (57,540,000 | ) | ||||||
| Allocation of offering costs<br> to ordinary shares subject to redemption | - | - | 4,163,327 | - | 4,163,327 | ||||||||||
| Accretion of carrying value of redeemable shares | - | - | (6,623,327 | ) | - | (6,623,327 | ) | ||||||||
| Subsequent measurement of<br> Common stock subject to possible redemption (interest earned on trust account) | - | - | 1,708,417 | (1,815,472 | ) | (107,055 | ) | ||||||||
| Net income | - | - | - | 85,516 | 85,516 | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31,<br> 2023 | 1,957,500 | $ | 196 | $ | - | $ | (1,729,956 | ) | $ | (1,729,760 | ) | ||||
| Balance | 1,957,500 | $ | 196 | $ | - | $ | (1,729,956 | ) | $ | (1,729,760 | ) | ||||
| Forfeiture of ordinary shares<br> by Sponsors | (225,000 | ) | (23 | ) | 23 | - | - | ||||||||
| Subsequent measurement of<br> ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (interest earned on trust account) | - | - | (23 | ) | (2,779,118 | ) | (2,779,141 | ) | |||||||
| Subsequent measurement of<br> ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (extension deposit) | - | - | - | (500,000 | ) | (500,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Net income | - | - | - | 1,752,975 | 1,752,975 | ||||||||||
| Balance<br> as of December 31, 2024 | 1,732,500 | $ | 173 | $ | - | $ | (3,256,099 | ) | $ | (3,255,926 | ) | ||||
| Balance | 1,732,500 | 173 | - | (3,256,099 | ) | (3,255,926 | ) |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| F-5 |
| --- |
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
| For the<br> <br>Year ended December 31, 2024 | For the<br> <br>Period from<br> <br>February 16, 2023<br> <br>(inception) through<br> <br>December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash flows<br> from operating activities: | ||||||
| Net<br> income | $ | 1,752,975 | 85,516 | |||
| Adjustments<br> to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
| Income<br> earned on investments held in Trust Account | (2,779,141 | ) | (107,055 | ) | ||
| Accrued<br> offering costs and expenses | 417,134 | 8,488 | ||||
| Prepaid<br> expenses | 70,344 | - | ||||
| Due to<br> related party | 50,000 | 8,641 | ||||
| Formation<br> and operating costs | - | - | ||||
| Net cash<br> used in operating activities | (488,688 | ) | (4,410 | ) | ||
| Cash flows<br> from investing activities: | ||||||
| Investment<br> held in Trust Account | - | (60,000,000 | ) | |||
| Cash withdrawn<br> from trust account in connection with redemption | 23,803,376 | - | ||||
| Principal<br> deposited into trust account in connection with extension | (500,000 | ) | - | |||
| Net cash<br> (used in) provided by investing activities | 23,303,376 | (60,000,000 | ) | |||
| Cash flows<br> from financing activities: | ||||||
| Proceeds<br> from initial public offering | - | 60,000,000 | ||||
| Proceeds<br> from private placement | - | 2,325,000 | ||||
| Proceeds<br> from unit purchase option | - | 100 | ||||
| Payments<br> of underwriter’s discount | - | (1,200,000 | ) | |||
| Payments<br> to related party | - | (112,530 | ) | |||
| Payments<br> from related party | - | 100 | ||||
| Payment<br> of offering costs | - | (425,952 | ) | |||
| Redemption of ordinary shares | (23,803,376 | ) | - | |||
| Proceeds<br> from promissory note | 500,000 | - | ||||
| Net<br> cash used in (provided by) financing activities | (23,303,376 | ) | 60,586,718 | |||
| Net change<br> in cash | (488,688 | ) | 582,308 | |||
| Cash at beginning of period | 582,308 | - | ||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 93,620 | 582,308 | |||
| Supplemental<br> disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities | ||||||
| Subsequent measurement of<br> ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (income earned on trust account) | 2,779,141 | 107,055 | ||||
| Deferred underwriting commission | - | 2,100,000 | ||||
| Deferred offering costs paid<br> by Sponsors in exchange for issuance of ordinary shares | - | 25,100 | ||||
| Offering costs adjusted from<br> prepaid expenses | - | 52 | ||||
| Offering costs charged to<br> Additional Paid-in Capital | - | 4,341,321 | ||||
| Reclassification of ordinary<br> shares subject to redemption | - | 57,540,000 | ||||
| Allocation of offering costs<br> to ordinary shares subject to redemption | - | 4,163,327 | ||||
| Remeasurement adjustment on<br> ordinary shares subject to possible redemption | - | 6,623,327 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| F-6 |
| --- |
BAYVIEW
ACQUISITION CORP
NOTES
TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE
1 —ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Organizationaland General
Bayview Acquisition Corp (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on February 16, 2023. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
The Company’s sponsors are Peace Investment Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, and Bayview Holding LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Sponsors”). As of December 31, 2024, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activities for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024 related to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“IPO”), and subsequent to the IPO, identifying a target company for an initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of an initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest or dividend income from the proceeds derived from the IPO. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The
registration statement for the Company’s IPO (the “Registration Statement”) was declared effective on December 14, 2023. Additionally, on December 14, 2023, the Company filed a registration statement adding securities to the Registration Statement. On December 19, 2023, the Company consummated the IPO of 6,000,000 units, (“Units” and, with respect to the ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $60,000,000, which is described in Note 3, and the sale of 232,500 Units (the “Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in private placements to the Sponsors that was closed simultaneously with the IPO, generating gross proceeds of $2,325,000.
The
Company granted the underwriter a 45-day option from the date of the IPO to purchase up to 900,000 additional Units to cover over-allotment, if any, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 28, 2024, the underwriter did not exercise their over-allotment option and hence a total of 225,000 ordinary shares were forfeited by the Sponsors.
The
Company will have until the last extended date, June 19, 2025, to consummate a Business Combination. However, if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less certain amount of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the rights of the Public Shareholders as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Public Shareholders and its Board of Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
ProposedBusiness Combination
On June 7, 2024, the Company entered into the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Oabay Holding Company, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“PubCo”), Bayview Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“SPAC”), Bayview Merger Sub 1 Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 1”), Bayview Merger Sub 2 Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 2”), Oabay Merger Sub Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub 3”), BLAFC Limited, a business company limited by shares in the British Virgin Islands, Bayview Holding LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Peace Investment Holdings Limited, pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth therein, (i) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 1, with SPAC surviving the merger in accordance with the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Act”) (the “First SPAC Merger”), (ii) immediately following the First SPAC Merger, SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Merger in accordance with the Act (the “Second SPAC Merger” and together with the First SPAC Merger, the “Initial Mergers”), and (iii) following the Initial Mergers, Merger Sub 3 will merge with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving entity and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo in accordance with the Act (the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”).
| F-7 |
| --- |
On June 26, 2024, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which all parties agreed to revise the earnout milestones to reflect new consolidated revenue metrics. Among other things, the Amendment revises the Merger Agreement to provide that, if the PubCo 2024 Audited Financials (as defined in the Merger Agreement) do not reflect consolidated revenue in excess of RMB 436,000,000.00 during fiscal year 2024 or the PubCo 2025 Audited Financials (as defined in the Merger Agreement) do not reflect consolidated revenues in excess of RMB 583,000,000.00 during fiscal year 2025, but the total consolidated revenue reflected by the PubCo 2024 Audited Financials and the PubCo 2025 Audited Financials is in excess of RMB 1,019,000,00.00, the Pro Rata Portion (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of 6,000,000 Earnout Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) will be issued and delivered by PubCo to each Earnout Shareholder (as defined in the Merger Agreement) within five (5) business days following the date of filing of the PubCo 2025 Audited Financials. Previously, the Pro Rata Portion of 6,000,000 Earnout Shares was to be delivered only if the PubCo 2024 Audited Financials do not reflect consolidated revenue in excess of RMB 436,000,000.00 during fiscal year 2024 but the total consolidated revenue reflected by the PubCo 2024 Audited Financials and the PubCo 2025 Audited Financials is in excess of RMB 1,019,000,00.00 during fiscal year 2025.
Extension
On
September 16, 2024, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting virtually and in person, solely with respect to voting on (i) the proposal to extend the date by which the Company must complete its initial business combination from September 19, 2024 to June 19, 2025, with all nine (9) extensions comprised of one month each and (ii) the proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated December 14, 2023 by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC to allow the Company to extend the Termination Date up to nine (9) times, with all nine (9) extensions comprised of one month each from the Termination Date to June 19, 2025 by providing five days’ advance notice to the Trustee prior to the applicable Termination Date and depositing into the Trust Account $125,000 for each month in an Extension until June 19, 2025.
In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Agreement Amendment Proposal at the Extraordinary General Meeting on September 16, 2024, the holders of 2,290,989 Ordinary Shares properly exercised their rights to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.39 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $23,803,376.
On
September 16, 2024, October 14, 2024, November 18, 2024 and December 13, 2024, respectively, the Company issued four promissory notes to Oabay, each in an amount of $125,000, pursuant to which the Company could borrow an aggregate of $125,000 to cover the expense in connection with the extension of the Business Combination. Through December 31, 2024, the Company had deposited an aggregate of $500,000 into the trust account under the promissory notes.
GoingConcern Consideration
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash of $93,620 and a working capital deficit of $1,155,926. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant professional costs to remain as a public traded company and to incur transaction costs in pursuit of a Business Combination. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management believes that these conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, if the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and such period is not extended, there will be a liquidation and subsequent dissolution. As a result, management has determined that such additional condition also raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the uncertainty.
| F-8 |
| --- |
NOTE
2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basisof Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These audited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed by the Company with the SEC on April 16, 2024.
EmergingGrowth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Useof Estimates
The preparation of the financial statement in conformity with US GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statement.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statement, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
| F-9 |
| --- |
Cashand cash equivalents
The
Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had a cash and cash equivalent balance of $93,620 and $582,308 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
InvestmentsHeld in Trust Account
The
Company’s portfolio of investments held in the trust account is comprised of investments in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations and Money Market Fund. The Company’s investments held in the trust account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in Trust Account are included in interest earned on marketable securities held in trust account in the accompanying statements of operations. The estimated fair value of investments held in the trust account is determined using available market information. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Trust Account had balances of $39,582,820 and $60,107,055, respectively. The interests earned from the trust account totaled $2,779,141 and $107,055 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, respectively, which were held in the trust accounts as earned and therefore presented as an adjustment to the operating activities in the Statement of Cash Flows.
OfferingCosts
Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, and other costs (including underwriting discounts and commissions) incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the IPO and that were charged to shareholders’ equity upon the completion of the IPO on December 19, 2023.
IncomeTaxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2024. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals, or material deviation from its position.
There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the Government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s financial statements.
NetIncome (Loss) per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. The statements of operations include a presentation of income (loss) per redeemable share and income (loss) per non-redeemable share following the two-class method of income per share. In order to determine the net income (loss) attributable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares, the Company first considered the undistributed income (loss) allocable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares and the undistributed income (loss) is calculated using the total net loss less any dividends paid. The Company then allocated the undistributed income (loss) ratably based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding between the redeemable and non-redeemable shares. Any remeasurement of the accretion to redemption value of the common shares subject to possible redemption was considered to be dividends paid to the public shareholders. As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted income (loss) per share is the same as basic income (loss) per share for the period presented.
| F-10 |
| --- |
The net income (loss) per share presented in the statements of operations is based on the following:
SCHEDULE OF NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE PRESENTED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| For<br> the year | For<br> the period <br> From February 16, 2023 (inception) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ended | through | |||||
| December<br> 31, | December<br> 31, | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net income | $ | 1,752,975 | $ | 85,516 | ||
| Interest earned from trust<br> account | (2,779,141 | ) | (107,055 | ) | ||
| Accretion<br> of temporary equity into redemption value | (500,000 | ) | (6,623,327 | ) | ||
| Net<br> loss including accretion of temporary equity to redemption value | $ | (1,526,166 | ) | $ | (6,644,866 | ) |
SCHEDULE OF EARNINGS PER SHARE BASIC AND DILUTED
| Shares | Shares | Shares | Shares | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the year ended December<br><br> <br>31, 2024 | For the period from February<br> <br>16, 2023 (inception) to<br> <br>December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Redeemable | Non-<br> Redeemable | Redeemable | Non-<br> Redeemable | |||||||||
| Shares | Shares | Shares | Shares | |||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income<br> (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||
| Numerators: | ||||||||||||
| Allocation of<br> net loss including accretion of temporary equity | $ | (1,153,705 | ) | $ | (372,461 | ) | $ | (951,427 | ) | $ | (5,693,439 | ) |
| Income earned on investment<br> held in Trust Account | 2,779,141 | - | 107,055 | - | ||||||||
| Accretion<br> of temporary equity to redemption value (extension deposit) | 500,000 | - | 6,623,327 | - | ||||||||
| Allocation<br> of net income (loss) | $ | 2,125,436 | $ | (372,461 | ) | $ | 5,778,955 | $ (5,693,439 | ) | |||
| Denominators: | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average<br> shares outstanding | 5,417,863 | 1,749,098 | 244,514 | 1,463,197 | ||||||||
| Basic<br> and diluted net income (loss) per share | $ | 0.39 | $ | (0.21 | ) | $ | 23.63 | $ | (3.89 | ) |
Concentrationof Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
| F-11 |
| --- |
FairValue of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair ValueMeasurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
OrdinaryShares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s ordinary shares features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
At December 31, 2024, the ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:
SCHEDULE OF ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION REFLECTED IN THE BALANCE SHEET
| Public offering<br> proceeds | $ | 60,000,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less: | |||
| Proceeds allocated to Public<br> Rights | (2,460,000 | ) | |
| Allocation of offering<br> costs related to redeemable shares | (4,163,327 | ) | |
| Plus: | |||
| Accretion<br> of carrying value to redemption value | 6,623,327 | ||
| Ordinary shares subject<br> to possible redemption | $ | 60,000,000 | |
| Plus: | |||
| Subsequent<br> measurement of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (income earned on trust account) | 107,055 | ||
| Ordinary<br> shares subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2023 | $ | 60,107,055 | |
| Less: | |||
| Withdrawn in connection<br> with redemption | (23,803,376 | ) | |
| Plus: | |||
| Subsequent measurement<br> of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (extension deposit) | 500,000 | ||
| Subsequent<br> measurement of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption (income earned on trust account) | 2,779,141 | ||
| Ordinary<br> shares subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2024 | 39,582,820 |
RecentAccounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE
3 — INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
On December 19, 2023, the Company sold 6,000,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. Ten Public Rights will entitle the holder to one ordinary share (see Note 7). The Company will not issue fractional shares and only whole shares will trade, so unless a holder purchased units in multiples of tens, such holder will not be able to receive or trade the fractional shares underlying the rights.
NOTE
4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the private sale of 232,500 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds of $2,325,000. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units were added to the net proceeds from the IPO held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). The Private Placement Units (including the underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable, or salable until the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain exceptions.
| F-12 |
| --- |
NOTE
5 — RELATED PARTIES
FounderShares
On
February 23, 2023, our sponsor, Bayview Holding LP, acquired 1,437,500 founder shares for an aggregate price of $25,000. 963,125 founder shares were transferred to our sponsor Peace Investment Holdings Limited on March 14, 2023.
On
December 14, 2023, the Company issued 287,500 founder shares for a consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 founder shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 founder shares. The payment of $100 was received on December 27, 2023. The issuance was considered as a nominal issuance, in substance a recapitalization transaction, which was recorded and presented retroactively.
On
January 28, 2024, a total of 225,000 ordinary shares were forfeited by the Sponsors subsequent to the IPO as the underwriter’s over-allotment option was not exercised.
PromissoryNote — Related Party
On
February 23, 2023, the Sponsors issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023, or (ii) the consummation of the IPO. On the date of closing of the IPO, no amounts were outstanding under the Promissory Note and the Promissory Note then expired upon the consummation of the IPO.
As of December 31, 2024, no promissory note was issued to related party.
Dueto Related Party
The
Sponsors paid certain formation, operating or deferred offering costs on behalf of the Company. These amounts were due on demand and non-interest bearing, which was fully repaid upon closing of the IPO on December 19, 2023. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, amount due to related party was $60,000 and $10,000 for the administration service fee, respectively.
AccountingService Agreement
The
Company has engaged Ascendant Global Advisors, Inc., a related part of the Sponsors, to assist in preparing quarterly and annual financial statements. The Company has agreed to pay for such services at a fixed quarterly rate of $5,250 each quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and during the period from February 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, service fees of $21,000 and $0 have been incurred for these services.
| F-13 |
| --- |
NOTE
6 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
RegistrationRights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, securities underlying the unit purchase option (“UPO”), and Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and all underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. Subject to certain limitations set forth in such agreement, the holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
UnderwritingAgreement
The
Company granted the underwriter a 45-day option from the date of IPO to purchase up to 900,000 additional Units to cover over-allotment, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 28, 2024, the underwriter did not exercise their over-allotment option and hence a total of 225,000 ordinary shares were forfeited by the Sponsors.
The
underwriter was entitled to a cash underwriting discounts of $0.20 per Unit, or $1,200,000 in the aggregate (or $1,380,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the IPO. The cash underwriting discount of $1,200,000 was paid on December 19, 2023.
The
underwriter will be entitled to a deferred commission of $0.35 per Unit, or $2,100,000 in the aggregate. The deferred commission will be paid to the underwriters from the amounts held in the escrow trust account solely in the event that the Company completes a business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. The deferred underwriting commission was reported as non-current liability on the balance sheet dated December 31, 2024.
UnitPurchase Option
We
have agreed to sell to Chardan and/or its designees, for $100, an option to purchase a total of 540,000 units exercisable, in whole or in part, at $11.50 per unit (or 115% of the volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day immediately prior to consummation of an initial Business Combination), commencing on the consummation of our initial Business Combination, and expires five years from the effective date of this offering. The option and the 540,000 units, as well as the 540,000 Ordinary Shares and the rights to purchase 54,000 Ordinary Shares upon the completion of an initial business combination, have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or the commencement of sales in this offering pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s Rules, during which time the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative or put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities, except as permitted under FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).
BusinessCombination Transaction Costs
The
Company has engaged several service providers specifically for the potential business combination. Per the agreed terms with Oabay, Oabay will be responsible for the expenses incurred in connection with the business combination. During the year ended December 31, 2024, $311,200 of business combination related cost has been incurred, and $311,200 was reimbursed by Oabay. This activity has been recorded net in accompanying financial statements. As of December 31, 2024, the receivable from Oabay and accrued to service providers was 0.
Finder’sAgreement
The
Company entered into an agreement with a consultant to help introduce and identify potential business targets and negotiate terms of potential Business Combination. In connection with this agreement, the Company will be required to pay a finder’s fee for such services, in an aggregate of 600,000 shares of the combined listing entity upon the closing of the Business Combination.
NOTE
7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
PreferredShares — The Company is authorized to issue 2,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no preferred shares issued or outstanding.
OrdinaryShares — The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share.
On
February 23, 2023, our sponsor, Bayview Holding LP, acquired 1,437,500 founder shares for an aggregate price of $25,000. 963,125 founder shares were transferred to our sponsor Peace Investment Holdings Limited on March 14, 2023.
| F-14 |
| --- |
On
December 14, 2023, the Company issued 287,500 founder shares for a consideration of $100, resulting in Bayview Holding LP holding a total of 569,250 founder shares and Peace Investment Holdings Limited holding a total of 1,155,750 founder shares. The payment of $100 was received on December 27, 2023. The issuance was considered as a nominal issuance, in substance a recapitalization transaction, which was recorded and presented retroactively. On January 28, 2024, a total of 225,000 ordinary shares were forfeited by the Sponsors as the underwriters did not exercise their over-allotment option.
As
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were 1,732,500 and 1,957,500 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, respectively, excluding the 3,709,011 and 6,000,000 ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, which are presented as temporary equity.
Rights— Except in cases where the Company is not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of the initial Business Combination. The Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Cayman law. In the event the Company is not the surviving company upon completion of the initial Business Combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. If the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the required time period and the Company will redeem the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless.
NOTE8 — Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The following tables present information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
SCHEDULE OF MEASURED FAIR VALUE ON RECURRING BASIS
| Quoted | Significant | Significant | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prices<br> in | Other | Other | ||||||
| As<br> of | Active | Observable | Unobservable | |||||
| December<br> 31, | Markets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||
| 2024 | (Level<br> 1) | (Level<br> 2) | (Level<br> 3) | |||||
| Assets: | ||||||||
| Investment held<br> in trust account | $ | 39,582,820 | $ | 39,582,820 | $ | — | $ | — |
| Quoted | Significant | Significant | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| As<br> of | Prices<br> in | Other | Other | |||||
| December | Active | Observable | Unobservable | |||||
| 31, | Markets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||
| 2023 | (Level<br> 1) | (Level<br> 2) | (Level<br> 3) | |||||
| Assets: | ||||||||
| Investment held<br> in trust account | $ | 60,107,055 | $ | 60,107,055 | $ | — | $ | — |
NOTE
9 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based on the review, management identified the following subsequent event that is required disclosure in the financial statements:
| On<br> January 13, 2025, February 13, 2025, and March 14, 2025, respectively, the Company issued three promissory notes to Oabay, each in<br> an amount of $125,000 (the “Extension Note 5”, “Extension Note 6” and “Extension Note 7”). The<br> Extension Notes bear no interest and are payable on the earlier of: (i) June 19, 2025, or (ii) promptly after the date of the consummation<br> of the Business Combination. The Company deposited a total of $375,000 into the trust account to extend the timeline of the business<br> combination from January 19, 2025 to April 19, 2025. |
|---|
| F-15 |
| --- |
Exhibit3.3
COMPANIESACT (REVISED)
COMPANYLIMITED BY SHARES
SECONDAMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUMAND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
BAYVIEWACQUISITION CORP
ADOPTEDBY SPECIAL RESOLUTION PASSED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

CompaniesAct (Revised)
CompanyLimited by Shares
SecondAmended and Restated
Memorandumof Association
of
BayviewAcquisition Corp
Adoptedby special resolution on September 16, 2024
| 1 | The<br> name of the Company is Bayview Acquisition Corp. |
|---|---|
| 2 | The<br> Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman)<br> Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands, or at such other<br> place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide. |
| 3 | The<br> Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act<br> (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited<br> by any law of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The<br> Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided<br> by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising<br> all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate<br> benefit. |
| 5 | Nothing<br> in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses<br> without being duly licensed, namely: |
| (a) | the<br> business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks<br> and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or |
| (b) | insurance<br> business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed<br> in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised);or |
| (c) | the<br> business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies<br> Management Act (Revised). |
| 6 | The<br> Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except<br> in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company<br> may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands<br> any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7 | The<br> Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited<br> to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares. |
| 8 | The<br> share capital of the Company is US$20,200 divided into 2,000,000 Preferred Shares of par<br> value US$0.0001 each and 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares of par value US$0.0001 each. Subject<br> to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company<br> has power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | to<br> redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and |
| (b) | to<br> increase or reduce its capital; and |
| (c) | to<br> issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with<br> or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject<br> to any limitations or restrictions and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether<br> declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or |
| (d) | to<br> alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 9 | The<br> Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares<br> under the laws of any jurisdiction<br> outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
COMPANIESACT (REVISED)
COMPANYLIMITED BY SHARES
SECONDAMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLESOF ASSOCIATION
OF
BAYVIEWACQUISITION CORP
ADOPTEDBY SPECIAL RESOLUTION ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
| CONTENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Definitions,<br> interpretation and exclusion of Table A | 1 |
| Definitions | 1 | |
| Interpretation | 4 | |
| Exclusion<br> of Table A Articles | 5 | |
| 2. | Commencement<br> of Business | 5 |
| 3. | Shares | 6 |
| Power<br> to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights | 6 | |
| Power<br> to issue fractions of a Share | 6 | |
| Power<br> to pay commissions and brokerage fees | 6 | |
| Trusts<br> not recognised | 7 | |
| Power<br> to vary class rights | 7 | |
| Effect<br> of new Share issue on existing class rights | 7 | |
| No<br> bearer Shares or warrants | 8 | |
| Treasury<br> Shares | 8 | |
| Rights<br> attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters | 8 | |
| Designation<br> of Preferred Shares Rights | 8 | |
| 4. | Register<br> of Members | 9 |
| 5. | Share<br> certificates | 10 |
| Issue<br> of share certificates | 10 | |
| Renewal<br> of lost or damaged share certificates | 10 | |
| 6. | Lien<br> on Shares | 10 |
| Nature<br> and scope of lien | 10 | |
| Company<br> may sell Shares to satisfy lien | 10 | |
| Authority<br> to execute instrument of transfer | 11 | |
| Consequences<br> of sale of Shares to satisfy lien | 11 | |
| Application<br> of proceeds of sale | 11 | |
| 7. | Calls<br> on Shares and forfeiture | 11 |
| Power<br> to make calls and effect of calls | 11 | |
| Time<br> when call made | 12 | |
| Liability<br> of joint holders | 12 | |
| Interest<br> on unpaid calls | 12 | |
| Deemed<br> calls | 12 | |
| Power<br> to accept early payment | 12 | |
| Power<br> to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares | 12 | |
| Notice<br> of default | 12 |
| i |
| --- | | | Forfeiture<br> or surrender of Shares | 13 | | --- | --- | --- | | | Disposal<br> of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender | 13 | | | Effect<br> of forfeiture or surrender on former Member | 13 | | | Evidence<br> of forfeiture or surrender | 14 | | | Sale<br> of forfeited or surrendered Shares | 14 | | 8. | Transfer<br> of Shares | 14 | | | Form<br> of transfer | 14 | | | Power<br> to refuse registration | 14 | | | Power<br> to suspend registration | 14 | | | Company<br> may retain instrument of transfer | 14 | | | Notice<br> of refusal to register | 14 | | 9. | Transmission<br> of Shares | 15 | | | Persons<br> entitled on death of a Member | 15 | | | Registration<br> of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy | 15 | | | Indemnity | 15 | | | Rights<br> of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy | 15 | | 10. | Alteration<br> of capital | 16 | | | Increasing,<br> consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital | 16 | | | Dealing<br> with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares | 16 | | | Reducing<br> share capital | 16 | | 11. | Redemption<br> and purchase of own Shares | 16 | | | Power<br> to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares | 16 | | | Power<br> to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie | 17 | | | Effect<br> of redemption or purchase of a Share | 17 | | 12. | Meetings<br> of Members | 18 | | | Power<br> to call meetings | 18 | | | Content<br> of notice | 19 | | | Period<br> of notice | 19 | | | Persons<br> entitled to receive notice | 19 | | | Publication<br> of notice on a website | 20 | | | Time<br> a website notice is deemed to be given | 20 | | | Required<br> duration of publication on a website | 20 | | | Accidental<br> omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice | 20 | | 13. | Proceedings<br> at meetings of Members | 20 | | | Quorum | 20 | | | Lack<br> of quorum | 21 | | | Use<br> of technology | 21 |
| ii |
| --- | | | Chairman | 21 | | --- | --- | --- | | | Right<br> of a director to attend and speak | 21 | | | Adjournment<br> and Postponement | 21 | | | Method<br> of voting | 22 | | | Taking<br> of a poll | 22 | | | Chairman’s<br> casting vote | 22 | | | Amendments<br> to resolutions | 22 | | | Written<br> resolutions | 23 | | | Sole-member<br> company | 23 | | 14. | Voting<br> rights of Members | 23 | | | Right<br> to vote | 23 | | | Rights<br> of joint holders | 24 | | | Representation<br> of corporate Members | 24 | | | Member<br> with mental disorder | 24 | | | Objections<br> to admissibility of votes | 25 | | | Form<br> of proxy | 25 | | | How<br> and when proxy is to be delivered | 25 | | | Voting<br> by proxy | 26 | | 15. | Number<br> of directors | 26 | | 16. | Appointment,<br> disqualification and removal of directors | 26 | | | No<br> age limit | 26 | | | Corporate<br> directors | 26 | | | No<br> shareholding qualification | 26 | | | Appointment<br> and removal of directors | 26 | | | Resignation<br> of directors | 27 | | | Termination<br> of the office of director | 28 | | 17. | Alternate<br> directors | 28 | | | Appointment<br> and removal | 28 | | | Notices | 29 | | | Rights<br> of alternate director | 29 | | | Appointment<br> ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director | 29 | | | Status<br> of alternate director | 29 | | | Status<br> of the director making the appointment | 30 | | 18. | Powers<br> of directors | 30 | | | Powers<br> of directors | 30 | | | Appointments<br> to office | 30 |
| iii |
| --- | | | Remuneration | 31 | | --- | --- | --- | | | Disclosure<br> of information | 31 | | 19. | Delegation<br> of powers | 31 | | | Power<br> to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee | 31 | | | Power<br> to appoint an agent of the Company | 32 | | | Power<br> to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company | 32 | | | Power<br> to appoint a proxy | 32 | | 20. | Meetings<br> of directors | 33 | | | Regulation<br> of directors’ meetings | 33 | | | Calling<br> meetings | 33 | | | Notice<br> of meetings | 33 | | | Period<br> of notice | 33 | | | Use<br> of technology | 33 | | | Place<br> of meetings | 33 | | | Quorum | 33 | | | Voting | 33 | | | Validity | 34 | | | Recording<br> of dissent | 34 | | | Written<br> resolutions | 34 | | | Sole<br> director’s minute | 34 | | 21. | Permissible<br> directors’ interests and disclosure | 34 | | | Permissible<br> interests subject to disclosure | 34 | | | Notification<br> of interests | 35 | | | Voting<br> where a director is interested in a matter | 35 | | 22. | Minutes | 35 | | 23. | Accounts<br> and audit | 35 | | | No<br> automatic right of inspection | 35 | | | Sending<br> of accounts and reports | 36 | | | Validity<br> despite accidental error in publication on website | 36 | | | Audit | 36 | | 24. | Financial<br> year | 37 | | 25. | Record<br> dates | 37 | | 26. | Dividends | 38 | | | Declaration<br> of dividends by Members | 38 | | | Payment<br> of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors | 38 | | | Apportionment<br> of dividends | 38 |
| iv |
| --- | | | Right<br> of set off | 39 | | --- | --- | --- | | | Power<br> to pay other than in cash | 39 | | | How<br> payments may be made | 39 | | | Dividends<br> or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights | 39 | | | Dividends<br> unable to be paid or unclaimed | 40 | | 27. | Capitalisation<br> of profits | 40 | | | Capitalisation<br> of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve | 40 | | | Applying<br> an amount for the benefit of members | 40 | | 28. | Share<br> premium account | 40 | | | directors<br> to maintain share premium account | 40 | | | Debits<br> to share premium account | 40 | | 29. | Seal | 41 | | | Company<br> seal | 41 | | | Duplicate<br> seal | 41 | | | When<br> and how seal is to be used | 41 | | | If<br> no seal is adopted or used | 41 | | | Power<br> to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal | 41 | | | Validity<br> of execution | 42 | | 30. | Indemnity | 42 | | | Indemnity | 42 | | | Release | 42 | | | Insurance | 43 | | 31. | Notices | 43 | | | Form<br> of notices | 43 | | | Electronic<br> communications | 43 | | | Persons<br> authorised to give notices | 43 | | | Delivery<br> of written notices | 44 | | | Joint<br> holders | 44 | | | Signatures | 44 | | | Evidence<br> of transmission | 44 | | | Giving<br> notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member | 44 | | | Date<br> of giving notices | 44 | | | Saving<br> provision | 44 | | 32. | Authentication<br> of Electronic Records | 45 | | | Application<br> of Articles | 45 | | | Authentication<br> of documents sent by Members by Electronic means | 45 | | | Authentication<br> of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means | 46 | | | Manner<br> of signing | 46 | | | Saving<br> provision | 46 | | 33. | Transfer<br> by way of continuation | 46 | | 34. | Winding<br> up | 47 | | | Distribution<br> of assets in specie | 47 | | | No<br> obligation to accept liability | 47 | | | The<br> directors are authorised to present a winding up petition | 47 | | 35. | Amendment<br> of Memorandum and Articles | 47 | | | Power<br> to change name or amend Memorandum | 47 | | | Power<br> to amend these Articles | 47 | | 36. | Mergers<br> and Consolidations | 47 | | 37. | Business<br> Combination | 48 | | 38. | Certain<br> Tax Filings | 51 | | 39. | Business<br> Opportunities | 51 |
| v |
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CompaniesAct (Revised)
CompanyLimited by Shares
SecondAmended and Restated
Articlesof Association
of
BayviewAcquisition Corp
Adoptedby special resolution on September 16, 2024
| 1. | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
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Definitions
| 1.1 | In<br> these Articles, the following definitions apply: |
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Actmeans the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
Affiliatein respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. Applicable Law means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person.
Articlesmeans, as appropriate:
| (a) | these<br> Amended and Restated Articles of Association as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise<br> modified from time to time: or |
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| (b) | two<br> or more particular Articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.
AuditCommittee means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to Article 23.8 hereof, or any successor audit committee.
Auditormeans the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company.
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BusinessCombination means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (each a target business), which Business Combination: (a) must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account); and (b) must not be effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations.
BusinessDay means a day other than a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City, a Saturday or a Sunday.
ClearDays, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
| (a) | the<br> day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
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| (b) | the<br> day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
ClearingHouse means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.
Companymeans the above-named company.
CompensationCommittee means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
DefaultRate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.
DesignatedStock Exchange means any United States national securities exchange, including the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the NYSE American LLC or The New York Stock Exchange LLC or any OTC market on which the Shares are listed for trading.
Electronichas the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).
ElectronicCommunication Facilities means video, video-conferencing, internet or online conferencing applications, telephone or tele-conferencing and/or any other video-communications, internet or online conferencing application or telecommunications facilities by means of which all persons participating in a meeting are capable of hearing and being heard by each other;
ElectronicRecord has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised). Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised). Equity-linked Securities means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt.
ExchangeAct means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Foundersmeans all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO.
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FullyPaid and Paid Up:
| (a) | in<br> relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium<br> payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in<br> money or money’s worth; |
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| (b) | in<br> relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in<br> money or money’s worth. |
IndependentDirector means a director who is an independent director as defined in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange as determined by the directors.
InvestorGroup means the Sponsors and their Affiliates, successors and assigns.
IPOmeans the Company’s initial public offering of securities.
IPORedemption has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.
Islandsmeans the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.
Membermeans any person or persons entered on the Register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share.
Memorandummeans the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.
NominatingCommittee means the nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
Officermeans a person then appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator.
OrdinaryResolution means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote thereon. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.
OrdinaryShare means an ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. Over-Allotment Option means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15% of the firm units (as described at Article 3.4) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discount and commissions.
PreferredShare means a preferred share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. Public Share means an Ordinary Share issued as part of the units (as described in Article 3.4) issued in the IPO.
PrivateUnits means the units sold to the Sponsors concurrently with the IPO.
RedemptionPrice has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.
Registerof Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Act and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.
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RegistrationStatement means the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC for the IPO.
Representativemeans a representative of the Underwriters.
SECmeans the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secretarymeans a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.
Sharemeans an Ordinary Share or a Preferred Share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:
| (a) | includes<br> stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and |
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| (b) | where<br> the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share. |
SpecialResolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.
Sponsorsmeans Peace Investment Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, and Bayview Holding LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
TaxFiling Authorised Person means such person as any director shall designate from time to time, acting severally.
TreasuryShares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 3.14. Trust Account means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of the Private Units simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited. Underwriter means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time, and any successor underwriter.
VirtualMeeting means any general meeting of the Members at which the Members (and any other permitted participants of such meeting, including without limitation the chairman of the meeting and any Directors) are permitted to attend and participate solely by means of Electronic Communication Facilities.
Interpretation
| 1.2 | In<br> the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires: |
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| (a) | A<br> reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Islands as known by its short title, and includes: |
| (i) | any<br> statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and |
| (ii) | any<br> subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute. |
Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Act of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Act in force from time to time as amended from time to time.
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| --- | | (b) | Headings<br> are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity. | | --- | --- | | (c) | If<br> a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business<br> Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day. | | (d) | A<br> word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference<br> to any gender also denotes the other genders. | | (e) | A<br> reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture,<br> association, body corporate or government agency. | | (f) | Where<br> a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in<br> respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. | | (g) | All<br> references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located. | | (h) | The<br> words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a<br> visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document<br> in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied. | | (i) | The<br> words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation. | | (j) | Any<br> requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the<br> Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an Electronic Signature. | | (k) | Sections<br> 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply. | | (l) | The<br> term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in<br> the Register of Members as the holder of such Share. | | (m) | The<br> term “present” means, in respect of any person attending a meeting, such person’s<br> presence at a general meeting of Members (or any meeting of the holders of any class of Shares),<br> which may be satisfied by means of such person or, if a corporation or other non-natural<br> person, its duly authorized representative (or, in the case of any Member, a proxy which<br> has been validly appointed by such Member in accordance with these Articles), being: (a)<br> physically present at the meeting; or (b) in the case of any meeting at which Electronic<br> Communication Facilities are permitted in accordance with these Articles, including any Virtual<br> Meeting, connected by means of the use of such Electronic Communication Facilities. |
Exclusionof Table A Articles
| 1.3 | The<br> regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations<br> contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply<br> to the Company. |
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| 2. | Commencement of Business |
| 2.1 | The<br> business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the<br> directors see fit. |
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| --- | | 2.2 | The<br> directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred<br> in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. | | --- | --- | | 3. | Shares |
Powerto issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
| 3.1 | Subject<br> to the provisions, if any, in the Act, the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given<br> by the Company in general meeting), these Articles and, where applicable, the rules and regulations<br> of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority<br> or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing<br> Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without<br> confirming rights of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any<br> unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions<br> as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions<br> of the Act. |
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| 3.2 | Without<br> limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company: |
| (a) | either<br> at a premium or at par; |
| (b) | with<br> or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or<br> otherwise. |
| 3.3 | The<br> Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar<br> nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive<br> any class of Shares or other securities in the Company at such times and on such terms and<br> conditions as the directors may decide. |
| 3.4 | The<br> Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of Shares, rights,<br> options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the<br> right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares<br> or other securities in the Company, on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide.<br> The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be<br> traded separately from one another on the 90th day following the date of the prospectus relating<br> to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject<br> to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet<br> reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO with the SEC and<br> a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the<br> units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately<br> from one another. |
Powerto issue fractions of a Share
| 3.5 | Subject<br> to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share<br> shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect<br> to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions,<br> rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares. |
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Powerto pay commissions and brokerage fees
| 3.6 | The<br> Company may, in so far as the Act permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
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| (a) | subscribing<br> or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
| (b) | procuring<br> or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied<br> by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another. |
| 3.7 | The<br> Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage. |
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Trustsnot recognised
| 3.8 | Except<br> as required by Applicable Law: |
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| (a) | the<br> Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any<br> equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise<br> provided by these Articles or the Act) any other rights in respect of any Share other than<br> an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder; and |
| (b) | no<br> person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Powerto vary class rights
| 3.9 | If<br> the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which<br> a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may<br> only be varied if one of the following applies: |
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| (a) | the<br> Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
| (b) | the<br> variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general<br> meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
| 3.10 | For<br> the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles<br> relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except<br> that: |
| (a) | the<br> necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less<br> than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
| (b) | any<br> Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised<br> representative, at the meeting may demand a poll. |
Effectof new Share issue on existing class rights
| 3.11 | Unless<br> the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on<br> the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or<br> issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.<br> For the avoidance of doubt, the creation, designation or issuance of any Preferred Shares<br> with rights and privileges ranking in priority to any existing class of Shares pursuant to<br> Article 3.19 shall not be deemed to be a variation of the rights of such existing class. |
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Capital contributions without issueof further Shares
| 3.12 | With<br> the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without<br> issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner: |
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| (a) | It<br> shall be treated as if it were a share premium. |
| (b) | Unless<br> the Member agrees otherwise: |
| (i) | if<br> the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares, it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares; |
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| --- | | (ii) | if<br> the Member holds Shares of more than one class, it shall be credited rateably to the share<br> premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue<br> prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for<br> all classes of Shares that the Member holds). | | --- | --- | | (c) | It<br> shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums. |
Nobearer Shares or warrants
| 3.13 | The<br> Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers. |
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TreasuryShares
| 3.14 | Shares<br> that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and<br> not treated as cancelled if: |
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| (a) | the<br> directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
| (b) | the<br> relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with. |
Rightsattaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
| 3.15 | No<br> dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise)<br> of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding<br> up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
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| 3.16 | The<br> Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
| (a) | the<br> Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right<br> in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; |
| (b) | a<br> Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining<br> the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act. |
| 3.17 | Nothing<br> in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted<br> as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 3.18 | Treasury<br> Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such<br> terms and conditions as the directors determine. |
Designationof Preferred Shares Rights
| 3.19 | Before<br> any Preferred Shares of any series are issued, the Directors shall fix, by resolution or resolutions, the following provisions of<br> such series: |
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| (a) | the<br> designation of such series and the number of Preferred Shares to constitute such series; |
| (b) | whether<br> the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided<br> by Act, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may be general or limited; |
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| --- | | (c) | the<br> dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such dividends shall be cumulative,<br> and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be<br> payable, the preference or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable<br> on any Shares of any other class of Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares; | | --- | --- | | (d) | whether<br> the Preferred Shares or such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, and, if<br> so, the times, prices and other conditions of such redemption; | | (e) | the<br> amount or amounts payable upon Preferred Shares of such series upon, and the rights of the<br> holders of such series in, a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding<br> up, or upon any distribution of the assets, of the Company; | | (f) | whether<br> the Preferred Shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or<br> sinking fund and, if o, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement or sinking<br> fund shall be applied to the purchase or edemption of the Preferred Shares of such series<br> for retirement or other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation<br> of the retirement or sinking fund; | | (g) | whether<br> the Preferred Shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, Shares<br> of any other class of Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares or any other securities<br> and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method,<br> if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange; | | (h) | the<br> limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any Preferred Shares or such<br> series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions<br> on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of, the existing<br> Shares or Shares of any other class of Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares; | | (i) | the<br> conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or upon<br> the issue of any additional Shares, including additional shares of such series or of any<br> other class of Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares; and | | (j) | any<br> other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights,<br> and any qualifications, limitations<br> and restrictions of any other class of Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares. | | 4. | Register of Members | | 4.1 | The<br> Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Act. | | 4.2 | The<br> directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members<br> in accordance with the Act. The directors may also determine which Register of Members shall<br> constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers,<br> and to vary such determination from time to time. | | 4.3 | The<br> title to Shares listed on a Designated Stock Exchange may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to<br> the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and, for these purposes, the Register of Members may be maintained in<br> accordance with section 40B of the Act. |
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Issueof share certificates
| 5.1 | Upon<br> being entered in the Register of Members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled: |
|---|---|
| (a) | without<br> payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon<br> transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate<br> for the balance of that holding); and |
| (b) | upon<br> payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after<br> the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
| 5.2 | Every<br> certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares<br> to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may<br> be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine. |
| 5.3 | The<br> Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by<br> several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a<br> sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewalof lost or damaged share certificates
| 5.4 | If<br> a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
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| (a) | evidence; |
| (b) | indemnity; |
| (c) | payment<br> of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
| (d) | payment<br> of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate as<br>the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate. |
| 6. | Lien on Shares |
| --- | --- |
Natureand scope of lien
| 6.1 | The<br> Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered<br> in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys<br> payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
|---|---|
| (a) | either<br> alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
| (b) | whether<br> or not those moneys are presently payable. |
| 6.2 | At<br> any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Companymay sell Shares to satisfy lien
| 6.3 | The<br> Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
| (b) | the<br> Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in<br> consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that<br> if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
| (c) | that<br> sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles. |
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| --- |
| 6.4 | The<br> Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine. |
|---|---|
| 6.5 | To<br> the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors shall incur no personal liability<br> to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authorityto execute instrument of transfer
| 6.6 | To<br> give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of<br> transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The<br> title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity<br> in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
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Consequencesof sale of Shares to satisfy lien
| 6.7 | On<br> sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that<br> person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares. |
Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.
Applicationof proceeds of sale
| 6.8 | The<br> net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much<br> of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to<br> the person whose Shares have been sold: |
|---|---|
| (a) | if<br> no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
| (b) | if<br> a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation but, in either case,<br> subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale. |
| 7. | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
| --- | --- |
Powerto make calls and effect of calls
| 7.1 | Subject<br> to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any<br> moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to<br> be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when<br> and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on<br> his Shares as required by the notice. |
|---|---|
| 7.2 | Before<br> receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or<br> in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be<br> paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments<br> in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in<br> whole or in part. |
| 11 |
| --- | | 7.3 | A<br> Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent<br> transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. A person shall not be liable<br> for calls made after such person is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. | | --- | --- |
Time when call made
| 7.4 | A<br> call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed. |
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Liability of joint holders
| 7.5 | Members<br> registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
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Interest on unpaid calls
| 7.6 | If<br> a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount<br> unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
|---|---|
| (a) | at<br> the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
| (b) | if<br> no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemedcalls
| 7.7 | Any<br> amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise,<br> shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions<br> of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a<br> call. |
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Powerto accept early payment
| 7.8 | The<br> Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares<br> held by him although no part of that amount has been called up. |
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Power to make different arrangementsat time of issue of Shares
| 7.9 | Subject<br> to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts<br> and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
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Notice of default
| 7.10 | If<br> a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than<br> 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> amount unpaid; |
| (b) | any<br> interest which may have accrued; |
| (c) | any<br> expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
| 12 |
| --- | | 7.11 | The<br> notice shall state the following: | | --- | --- | | (a) | the<br> place where payment is to be made; and | | (b) | a<br> warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited. |
Forfeitureor surrender of Shares
| 7.12 | If<br> the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the<br> payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that<br> notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in<br> respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing,<br> the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the<br> Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
|---|---|
| 7.13 | The<br> directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any Fully Paid Share. |
Disposalof forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
| 7.14 | A<br> forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such<br> terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held<br> that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms<br> as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re- allotment or other disposition.<br> Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred<br> to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer<br> of the Share to the transferee. |
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Effectof forfeiture or surrender on former Member
| 7.15 | On<br> forfeiture or surrender: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder<br> of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that<br> person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited<br> or surrendered Shares. |
| 7.16 | Despite<br> the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture<br> or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
| (a) | all<br> expenses; and |
| (b) | interest<br> from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
| (i) | at<br> the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or |
| (ii) | if<br> no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
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| --- |
Evidenceof forfeiture or surrender
| 7.17 | A<br> declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be<br> conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming<br> to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
|---|---|
| (a) | that<br> the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and |
| (b) | that<br> the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date. |
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Saleof forfeited or surrendered Shares
| 7.18 | Any<br> person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to<br> see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title<br> to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect<br> of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
|---|---|
| 8. | Transfer of Shares |
Formof transfer
| 8.1 | Subject<br> to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, and provided that such transfer complies<br> with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other<br> competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a Member may transfer Shares<br> to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed<br> by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent<br> regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the<br> directors, executed: |
|---|---|
| (a) | where<br> the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and |
| (b) | where<br> the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee. |
| 8.2 | The<br> transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee<br> is entered into the Register of Members. |
Powerto refuse registration
| 8.3 | If<br> the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued<br> pursuant to Article 3.4 on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the directors<br> shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to<br> them of the like transfer of such option or warrant. |
|---|---|
| 8.4 | Where<br> the Shares in question are not listed on or subject to the rules of any Designated Stock<br> Exchange, the Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer<br> of such Shares which are not Fully Paid or on which the Company has a lien. The Directors<br> may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer<br><br> <br>of<br> any such Share unless: |
| (a) | the<br> instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate (if any)<br> for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require<br> to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| (b) | the<br> instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares; |
| (c) | the<br> instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
| (d) | in<br> the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; |
| (e) | the<br> Shares transferred are Fully Paid and free of any lien in favour of the Company; and |
| (f) | any<br> applicable fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchanges may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board<br> may from time to time require, related to the transfer is paid to the Company. |
Powerto suspend registration
| 8.5 | The<br> registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such<br> one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register of Members closed<br> at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from<br> time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended<br> nor the register of Members closed for more than 30 days in any calendar year. |
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Company may retain instrument of transfer
| 8.6 | The<br> Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors<br> refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
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Notice of refusal to register
| 8.7 | If<br> the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares not listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, they shall within one month<br> after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company send to each of the transferor and the transferee<br> notice of the refusal. |
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| --- | |
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| --- | --- |
Personsentitled on death of a Member
| 9.1 | If<br> a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased<br> Members’ interest are the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | where<br> the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
| (b) | where<br> the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
| 9.2 | Nothing<br> in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in<br> respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
Registrationof transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 9.3 | A<br> person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member<br> may elect to do either of the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | to<br> become the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | to<br> transfer the Share to another person. |
| 9.4 | That<br> person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require. |
| 9.5 | If<br> the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to<br> that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it<br> were an executed instrument of transfer. |
| 9.6 | If<br> the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
| (a) | if<br> the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
| (b) | if<br> the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
| 9.7 | All<br> these Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate,<br> the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
| 9.8 | A<br> person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall<br> indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company<br> or the directors as a result of that registration. |
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Rightsof person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 9.9 | A<br> person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall<br> have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the<br> Share. However, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be<br> entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the<br> holders of that class of Shares in the Company. |
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| 10. | Alteration of capital |
|---|
Increasing,consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
| 10.1 | To<br> the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of<br> the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
|---|---|
| (a) | increase<br> its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with<br> the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
| (b) | consolidate<br> and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert<br> all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares<br> of any denomination; |
| (d) | sub-divide<br> its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division,<br> the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of<br> the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
| (e) | cancel<br> Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken<br> or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the<br> amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish<br> the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealingwith fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
| 10.2 | Whenever,<br> as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions<br> of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members: |
|---|---|
| (a) | sell<br> the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person<br> (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and |
| (b) | distribute<br> the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members. |
For that purpose, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.
Reducingshare capital
| 10.3 | Subject<br> to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular<br> class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any<br> way. |
|---|---|
| 11. | Redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Powerto issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
| 11.1 | Subject<br> to the Act and Article 37, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members<br> holding a particular class of Shares, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of<br> the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or<br> otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may by its directors: |
|---|---|
| (a) | issue<br> Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or<br> the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors<br> determine before the issue of those Shares; |
| 16 |
| --- |
| (b) | with<br> the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary<br> the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be<br> redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the<br> manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
|---|---|
| (c) | purchase<br> all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and<br> in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Act, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
| 11.2 | With<br> respect to redeeming, repurchasing or surrendering of Shares: |
|---|---|
| (a) | Members<br> who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances<br> described in Article 37.3; |
| (b) | Shares<br> held by the Sponsors shall be surrendered by the Sponsors for no consideration to the extent that the Over- Allotment Option is not<br> exercised in full so that such shares will represent 20% of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (but excluding any Shares<br> included in the Private Units); and |
| (c) | Public<br> Shares shall be repurchased by way of Tender Offer in the circumstances set out in Article 37.2(b). |
Powerto pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
| 11.3 | When<br> making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make<br> the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised<br> by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in<br> accordance with Article 11.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
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Effectof redemption or purchase of a Share
| 11.4 | Upon<br> the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share<br> other than the right to receive: |
| (i) | the<br> price for the Share; and |
| (ii) | any<br> dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
| (b) | the<br> Member’s name shall be removed from the Register of Members with respect to the Share; and |
| (c) | the<br> Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the directors may determine. |
For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due.
| 17 |
| --- | | 11.5 | For<br> the avoidance of doubt, redemptions and repurchases of Shares in the circumstances described in Articles 11.2(a), 11.2(b) and 11.2(c)<br> above shall not require further approval of the Members. | | --- | --- | | 12. | Meetings of Members |
Powerto call meetings
| 12.1 | To<br> the extent required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC<br> and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, an annual<br> general meeting of the Company shall be held no later than one year after the first financial<br> year end occurring after the IPO, and shall be held in each year thereafter at such time<br> as determined by the directors and the Company may, but shall not (unless required by the<br> Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other<br> competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law) be obliged to, in each<br> year hold any other general meeting. |
|---|---|
| 12.2 | The<br> agenda of the annual general meeting shall be set by the directors and shall include the<br> presentation of the Company’s annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any). |
| 12.3 | Annual<br> general meetings shall be held in New York, USA or in such other places as the directors may determine. |
| 12.4 | All<br> general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings and the Company shall specify<br> the meeting as such in the notices calling it. |
| 12.5 | The<br> directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
| 12.6 | If<br> there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable<br> to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting<br> for the purpose of appointing additional directors. |
| 12.7 | The<br> directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
| 12.8 | The<br> requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 40% of the rights to vote at such general<br> meeting. |
| 12.9 | The<br> requisition must also: |
| (a) | specify<br> the purpose of the meeting. |
| (b) | be<br> signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall<br> be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed<br> by one or more of the requisitioners. |
| (c) | be<br> delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
| 12.10 | Should<br> the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt<br> of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three<br> months after the end of that period. |
| 12.11 | Without<br> limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and<br> the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any<br> one or more Members who together hold at least 40% of the rights to vote at a general meeting<br> may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice<br> of meeting which shall include as an item of business the<br><br> <br>appointment<br> of additional directors. |
| 18 |
| --- |
| 12.12 | Members<br> seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for<br> election as directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal<br> executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor<br> earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual<br> general meeting. |
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Contentof notice
| 12.13 | Notice<br> of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> place, the date and the hour of the meeting; |
| (b) | if<br> the meeting is to be held in two or more places, or any meeting at which Electronic Communication<br> Facilities will be utilized (including any Virtual Meeting), the Electronic Communication<br> Facilities that will be used to facilitate the meeting, including the procedures to be followed<br> by any Member or other participant of the meeting who wishes to utilize such Electronic Communication<br> Facilities for the purposes of attending and participating in such meeting; |
| (c) | subject<br> to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
| (d) | if<br> a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
| 12.14 | In<br> each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
| (a) | that<br> a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to<br> attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
| (b) | that<br> a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
Periodof notice
| 12.15 | At<br> least five Clear Days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members, provided<br> that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this<br> Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general<br> meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
|---|---|
| (a) | in<br> the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in<br> the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting,<br> together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
Personsentitled to receive notice
| 12.16 | Subject<br> to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following<br> people: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> Members; |
| (b) | persons<br> entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and |
| (c) | the<br> directors. |
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Publicationof notice on a website
| 12.17 | Subject<br> to the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or<br> any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a notice of a<br> general meeting may be published<br> on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> publication of the notice on the website; |
| (b) | the<br> place on the website where the notice may be accessed; |
| (c) | how<br> it may be accessed; and |
| (d) | the<br> place, date and time of the general meeting. |
| 12.18 | If<br> a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the<br> Company must as soon as practicable<br> give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. |
| This will not affect<br> when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting. |
Timea website notice is deemed to be given
| 12.19 | A<br> website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication. |
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Requiredduration of publication on a website
| 12.20 | Where<br> the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date<br> of the notification until at least the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
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Accidentalomission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
| 12.21 | Proceedings<br> at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | an<br> accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
| (b) | non-receipt<br> of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
| 12.22 | In<br> addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting<br> shall not be invalidated<br> merely because it is accidentally published: |
| (a) | in<br> a different place on the website; or |
| (b) | for<br> part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting<br> to which the notice relates. |
| 13. | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
| --- | --- |
Quorum
| 13.1 | Save<br> as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless<br> a quorum is present in person<br> or by proxy at the meeting. One or more Members who together hold not less than one-third<br> of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by<br> proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative<br> or proxy shall be a quorum; provided that a quorum in connection with any meeting that is<br> convened to vote on a Business Combination or any meeting convened with regards to an amendment<br> described in Article 37.9 shall be a majority of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting<br> being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural<br> person by its duly authorised representative or proxy. |
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| 20 |
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Lackof quorum
| 13.2 | If<br> a quorum is not present at the meeting within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting,<br> or if at any time during<br> the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
|---|---|
| (a) | If<br> the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled. |
| (b) | In<br> any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence,<br> or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present<br> at the meeting within 15 minutes of the time<br> appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the meeting shall be dissolved. |
Useof technology
| 13.3 | A<br> person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video<br> or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the<br> meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating<br> in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
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Chairman
| 13.4 | The<br> chairman of a general meeting (including any Virtual Meeting) shall be the chairman of the<br> board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the<br> absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present at the meeting<br> within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect<br> one of their number to chair the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall be entitled to<br> attend and participate at any such general meeting by means of Electronic Communication Facilities,<br> and to act as the chairman of such general meeting, in which event the chairman of the meeting<br> shall be deemed to be present at<br> the meeting. |
|---|---|
| 13.5 | If<br> no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman,<br> the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
Rightof a director to attend and speak
| 13.6 | Even<br> if a director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members<br> holding a particular class of Shares in the Company. |
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Adjournmentand Postponement
| 13.7 | The<br> chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however,<br> can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
|---|---|
| 13.8 | Should<br> a meeting be adjourned for more than twenty Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given<br> at least five Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business<br> to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
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| --- | | 13.9 | If,<br> prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the<br> directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for<br> any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the<br> notice calling such general meeting, the directors may postpone the general meeting to another<br> place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged<br> general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any<br> postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting. | | --- | --- | | 13.10 | When<br> a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original<br> meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original<br> general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been<br> postponed. |
Methodof voting
| 13.11 | A resolution put to<br> the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
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Takingof a poll
| 13.12 | A<br> poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
|---|---|
| 13.13 | A<br> poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman<br> directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
| 13.14 | The<br> demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was<br> demanded. |
| 13.15 | A<br> poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who<br> need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through<br> the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers<br> in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at<br> that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to<br> a date, place and time when that can occur. |
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Chairman’scasting vote
| 13.16 | If the votes on a resolution<br> are equal, the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote. |
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Amendmentsto resolutions
| 13.17 | An<br>Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if: |
|---|---|
| (a) | not less than 48 hours before<br> the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment<br> is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and |
| (b) | the proposed amendment does not, in the<br> reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution. |
| 13.18 | A<br> Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if: (a) the chairman of the meeting<br> proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and (b) the amendment does not go beyond<br> what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution. |
| 22 |
| --- | | 13.19 | If<br> the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s<br> error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution. | | --- | --- |
Writtenresolutions
| 13.20 | Members<br> may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
|---|---|
| (a) | all<br> Members entitled so to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
| (b) | all<br> Members entitled so to vote : |
| (i) | sign<br> a document; or |
| (ii) | sign<br> several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (c) | the<br> signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company<br> so nominates, by delivery<br> of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. |
Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.
| 13.21 | If<br> a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
|---|---|
| 13.22 | The<br> directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members.<br> In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to<br> indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting<br> to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to<br> cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as<br> abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis<br> as on a poll. |
Sole-membercompany
| 13.23 | If<br> the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question,<br> that record shall constitute<br> both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
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| 14. | Voting rights of Members |
| --- | --- |
Rightto vote
| 14.1 | Subject<br> to any rights or restrictions attached to any Member’s Shares, or unless a call or<br> other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general<br> meeting, and all Members holding Shares of<br> a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class<br> of Shares. |
|---|---|
| 14.2 | Members<br> may vote in person or by proxy. |
| 14.3 | Every<br> Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
| 14.4 | A<br> fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote. |
| 14.5 | No<br> Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way. |
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Rightsof joint holders
| 14.6 | If<br> Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the<br> joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares<br> appears first in the Register of Members shall be<br> accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
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Representationof corporate Members
| 14.7 | Save<br> where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
|---|---|
| 14.8 | A<br> corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
| 14.9 | The<br> authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less<br> than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
| 14.10 | The<br> directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the<br> notice. |
| 14.11 | Where<br> a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present<br> in person; and the acts of<br> the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
| 14.12 | A<br> corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time<br> by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried<br> out by the duly authorised representative<br> before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
| 14.13 | If<br> a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise<br> such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or<br> at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the<br> number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised.<br> Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been<br> duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same<br> rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was<br> the registered holder of such Shares held by<br> the clearing house (or its nominee(s)). |
Memberwith mental disorder
| 14.14 | A<br> Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether<br> in the Islands or elsewhere)<br> in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, by that Member’s receiver, curator<br> bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
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| 14.15 | For<br> the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the<br> authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less<br> than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting<br> or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment<br> of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall<br> not be exercisable. |
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Objectionsto admissibility of votes
| 14.16 | An<br> objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at<br> the adjourned meeting at which<br> the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman<br> whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
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Formof proxy
| 14.17 | An<br> instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors. |
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| 14.18 | The<br> instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by<br> the Member; or |
| (b) | by<br> the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
| (c) | if<br> the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised<br> officer, secretary or attorney. |
If the directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying these Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
| 14.19 | The<br> directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine<br> the validity of any appointment<br> of a proxy. |
|---|---|
| 14.20 | A<br> Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above<br> about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors<br> of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
Howand when proxy is to be delivered
| 14.21 | Subject<br> to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which<br> it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved<br> by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company not less than 48<br> hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named<br> in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in<br> either of the following ways: |
|---|---|
| (a) | In<br> the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
| (i) | to<br> the registered office of the Company; or |
| (ii) | to<br> such other place specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment<br> of proxy sent out by the<br> Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (b) | If,<br> pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment<br> of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
| (i) | in<br> the notice convening the meeting; or |
| (ii) | in<br> any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
| (iii) | in<br> any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
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| --- | | 14.22 | Where<br> a poll is taken: | | --- | --- | | (a) | if<br> it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or<br> an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time<br> appointed for the taking of the poll; | | (b) | but<br> if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment<br> of a proxy and any accompanying<br> authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the<br> preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the<br> poll. | | 14.23 | If<br> the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
Votingby proxy
| 14.24 | A<br> proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would<br> have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding<br> the appointment of a proxy,<br> a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any<br> resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares,<br> shall be invalid. |
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| 15. | Number of directors |
| --- | --- |
Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum shall be ten.
| 16. | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors |
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Noage limit
| 16.1 | There<br> is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years. |
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Corporatedirectors
| 16.2 | Unless<br> prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, these Articles about representation of<br> corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to these Articles about directors’ meetings. |
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Noshareholding qualification
| 16.3 | Unless<br> a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition<br> of his appointment. |
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Appointmentand removal of directors
| 16.4 | The<br> directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number<br> of directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Upon the adoption of the<br> Articles, the existing directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class<br> II or Class III directors. The Class I directors shall stand elected for a term expiring<br> at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II directors shall stand elected<br> for a term expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III<br> directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s third annual general<br> meeting. Commencing at the Company’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual<br> general meeting thereafter, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire<br> shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting<br> after their election. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective<br> terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. A director<br> elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director<br> shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or<br> removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and<br> qualified. |
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| 16.5 | After<br> the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a director or may by Ordinary<br> Resolution remove any director. |
|---|---|
| 16.6 | Without<br> prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a director pursuant to these Articles, the directors shall have<br> power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.<br> A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder<br> of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall<br> have been elected and qualified. |
| 16.7 | Notwithstanding<br>the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the<br>personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person<br>to be a director. For the purpose of this Article: |
| --- | --- |
| (a) | where two or more shareholders die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger hareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder; |
| (b) | if the last shareholder died leaving a will which<br> disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or<br> otherwise): |
| (i) | the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means: |
| (A) | until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and |
| (B) | after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will; |
| (ii) | without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (Revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate. |
| 16.8 | A<br> remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors. |
| --- | --- |
| 16.9 | No<br> appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
| 16.10 | For<br> so long as Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors<br> as Applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange require, subject to applicable phase-in rules of<br> the Designated Stock Exchange. |
Resignationof directors
| 16.11 | A<br> director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if<br> permitted pursuant to the<br> notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those<br> provisions. |
|---|---|
| 16.12 | Unless<br> the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the<br> date that the notice is delivered<br> to the Company. |
| 27 |
| --- |
Terminationof the office of director
| 16.13 | A<br> director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
|---|---|
| (a) | he<br> is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or |
| (b) | he<br> is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (c) | in<br> the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically<br> or mentally incapable of<br> acting as a director; or |
| (d) | he<br> is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; |
| (e) | without<br> the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous<br> period of six months; or |
| (f) | all<br> of the other directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a director, either by a resolution<br> passed by all of the other directors at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held in accordance with these Articles or by<br> a resolution in writing signed by all of the other directors. |
| 17. | Alternate directors |
| --- | --- |
Appointmentand removal
| 17.1 | Any<br> director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as<br> an alternate director. No<br> appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the<br> other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following<br> methods: |
|---|---|
| (a) | by<br> notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if<br> the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the<br> notice as a PDF attachment<br> (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event<br> notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form.<br> For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than<br> one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 17.4(c)). |
| 17.2 | Without<br> limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular<br> meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take<br> such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective<br> without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving<br> of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 17.4. |
| 17.3 | A<br> director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take<br> effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such<br> notice must be given by either of the methods specified<br> in Article 17.1. |
| 17.4 | A<br> notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods: |
| (a) | by<br> notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| 28 |
| --- | | (b) | if<br> the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission<br> to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission<br> to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either<br> case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which<br> event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report<br> from the sender’s fax machine; | | --- | --- | | (c) | if<br> the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a<br> scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address<br> provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment<br> (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies),<br> in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company<br> or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or | | (d) | if<br> permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those<br> provisions in writing. |
Notices
| 17.5 | All<br> notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate. |
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Rightsof alternate director
| 17.6 | An<br> alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of<br> a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present,<br> and generally to perform all the functions of the<br> appointing director in his absence. |
|---|---|
| 17.7 | For<br> the avoidance of doubt: |
| (a) | if<br> another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall<br> be entitled to a separate<br> vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been<br> appointed an alternate; and |
| (b) | if<br> a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one<br> director, he shall be entitled<br> to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate. |
| 17.8 | An<br> alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company<br> for services rendered as<br> an alternate director. |
Appointmentceases when the appointor ceases to be a director
| 17.9 | An<br> alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director. |
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Statusof alternate director
| 17.10 | An<br> alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment. |
|---|---|
| 17.11 | Save<br> where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles. |
| 17.12 | An<br> alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him. |
| 17.13 | An<br> alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director. |
| 29 |
| --- |
Statusof the director making the appointment
| 17.14 | A<br> director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company. |
|---|---|
| 18. | Powers of directors |
| --- | --- |
Powersof directors
| 18.1 | Subject<br> to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who<br> may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
|---|---|
| 18.2 | No<br> prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the<br> extent allowed by the Act, following the consummation of the IPO Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act<br> of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
Appointmentsto office
| 18.3 | The<br> directors may appoint a director: |
|---|---|
| (a) | as<br> chairman of the board of directors; |
| (b) | as<br> vice-chairman of the board of directors; |
| (c) | as<br> managing director; |
| (d) | to<br> any other executive office |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.
| 18.4 | The<br> appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
|---|---|
| 18.5 | Where<br> a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors. |
| 18.6 | If<br> there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting<br> may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in<br> place of the chairman should he ever not be<br> available. |
| 18.7 | Subject<br> to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director: |
| (a) | as<br> Secretary; and |
| (b) | to<br> any office that may be required (including, for the avoidance of doubt, one or more chairmen of the Board, one or more chief executive<br> officers, a president, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, vice-presidents, one or more assistant vice-presidents, one or more<br> assistant treasurers and one or more assistant secretaries), |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the directors decide.
| 18.8 | The<br> Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
|---|---|
| 18.9 | A<br> director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold the office, or perform the services, of Auditor. |
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| --- |
Remuneration
| 18.10 | The<br> remuneration to be paid to the directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the directors<br> shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any director prior to<br> the consummation of a Business Combination. The directors shall also, whether prior to or<br> after the consummation of a Business Combination, be<br> entitled to be paid all out of pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with<br> activities on behalf of the Company, including identifying and consummating a Business Combination. |
|---|---|
| 18.11 | Remuneration<br> may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or<br> sickness benefits, whether<br> to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him. |
| 18.12 | Unless<br> his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received<br> from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
Disclosureof information
| 18.13 | The<br> directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs<br> of the Company, including any information contained in the Register of Members relating to<br> a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the<br> Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information<br> in his possession) if: |
|---|
| (a) | the<br> Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws<br> of any jurisdiction to which<br> the Company is subject; or |
|---|---|
| (b) | such<br> disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or |
| (c) | such<br> disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
| (d) | the<br> directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
| 19. | Delegation of powers |
| --- | --- |
Powerto delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee
| 19.1 | The<br> directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons<br> who need not be Members (including,<br> without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee).<br> Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons<br> are directors. |
|---|---|
| 19.2 | The<br> delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers. |
| 19.3 | The<br> delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee<br> itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being<br> revoked or altered by the directors at<br> will. |
| 19.4 | Unless<br> otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for<br> the taking of decisions by<br> directors. |
| 31 |
| --- |
| 19.5 | The<br> directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review<br> and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these<br> committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee<br> set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the directors may delegate pursuant<br> to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange,<br> the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.<br> Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if<br> established, shall consist of such number of directors as the directors shall from time to<br> time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules<br> and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory<br> authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed<br> on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the<br> Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent<br> Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the rules and<br> regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange,<br> the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
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Powerto appoint an agent of the Company
| 19.6 | The<br> directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter,<br> to be the agent of the Company<br> with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers.<br> The directors may make that appointment: |
|---|---|
| (a) | by<br> causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
| (b) | in<br> any other manner they determine. |
Powerto appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
| 19.7 | The<br> directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors,<br> to be the attorney or the<br> authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
|---|---|
| (a) | for<br> any purpose; |
| (b) | with<br> the powers, authorities and discretions; |
| (c) | for<br> the period; and |
| (d) | subject<br> to such conditions |
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under these Articles. The directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
| 19.8 | Any<br> power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and<br> convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors<br> think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or<br> authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities<br> and discretions vested in that person. |
|---|
Powerto appoint a proxy
| 19.9 | Any<br> director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any<br> meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence<br> or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to<br> be that of the appointing director. |
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| 32 |
| --- |
| 19.10 | Articles<br> 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors)<br> apply, mutatis mutandis,<br> to the appointment of proxies by directors. |
|---|---|
| 19.11 | A<br> proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an Officer. |
| 20. | Meetings of directors |
| --- | --- |
Regulationof directors’ meetings
| 20.1 | Subject<br> to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
|---|
Callingmeetings
| 20.2 | Any<br> director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to<br> do so by a director. |
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Noticeof meetings
| 20.3 | Every<br> director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively<br> the requirement to be given<br> notice. Notice may be oral. Attendance at a meeting without written objection shall be deemed<br> to be a waiver of such notice requirement. |
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Periodof notice
| 20.4 | At<br> least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. A meeting may be convened on shorter notice<br> with the consent of all directors. |
|---|
Useof technology
| 20.5 | A<br> director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications<br> equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
|---|---|
| 20.6 | A<br> director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Placeof meetings
| 20.7 | If<br> all the directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking<br> place wherever any of them is. |
|---|
Quorum
| 20.8 | The<br> quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless<br> the Company has only one director. |
|---|
Voting
| 20.9 | A<br> question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes<br> are equal the chairman may,<br> if he wishes, exercise a casting vote. |
|---|
| 33 |
| --- |
Validity
| 20.10 | Anything<br> done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that<br> any person was not properly<br> appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote. |
|---|
Recordingof dissent
| 20.11 | A<br> director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action<br> taken at that meeting unless: |
|---|---|
| (a) | his<br> dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
| (b) | he<br> has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
| (c) | he<br> has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent. |
A director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.
Writtenresolutions
| 20.12 | The<br> directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign<br> a document or sign several<br> documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors. |
|---|---|
| 20.13 | Despite<br> the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or<br> by a validly appointed proxy<br> need not also be signed by the appointing director. If a written resolution is signed personally<br> by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy. |
| 20.14 | Such<br> written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors<br> duly convened and held; and<br> it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director<br> signs. |
Soledirector’s minute
| 20.15 | Where<br> a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute<br> the passing of a resolution<br> in those terms. |
|---|---|
| 21. | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure |
| --- | --- |
Permissibleinterests subject to disclosure
| 21.1 | Save<br> as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct<br> or indirect interest or duty<br> which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company. |
|---|---|
| 21.2 | If,<br> notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow<br> directors the nature and<br> extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may: |
| (a) | be<br> a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or<br> in which the Company is or<br> may otherwise be interested; or |
| (b) | be<br> interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise<br> interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed<br> by, or be a party to any transaction or<br> arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate. |
| 34 |
| --- |
| 21.3 | Such<br> disclosure may be made at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must<br> be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect<br> interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions<br> or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has<br> any material interest. |
|---|---|
| 21.4 | If<br> a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not,<br> by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives<br> from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any<br> interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or<br> arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. |
Notificationof interests
| 21.5 | For<br> the purposes of the preceding Articles: |
|---|---|
| (a) | a<br> general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as<br> having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or<br> arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed<br> to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction<br> of the nature and extent so specified; and |
| (b) | an<br> interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him<br> to have knowledge shall not<br> be treated as an interest of his. |
Votingwhere a director is interested in a matter
| 21.6 | A<br> director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which<br> that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director<br> discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted<br> towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes<br> on the resolution, his vote shall be counted. |
|---|---|
| 21.7 | Where<br> proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to<br> offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested,<br> the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each<br> of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect<br> of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment. |
| 22. | Minutes |
| --- | --- |
The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.
| 23. | Accounts and audit |
|---|
Accountingand other records
| 23.1 | The<br> directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed<br> in accordance with the requirements of the Act. |
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Noautomatic right of inspection
| 23.2 | Members<br> are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by<br> the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution. |
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| 35 |
| --- |
Sendingof accounts and reports
| 23.3 | The<br> Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report<br> that are required or permitted to be sent<br> to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if: |
|---|---|
| (a) | they<br> are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or |
| (b) | they<br> are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of: |
| (i) | the<br> fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website; |
| --- | --- |
| (ii) | the<br> address of the website; and |
| (iii) | the<br> place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and |
| (iv) | how<br> they may be accessed. |
| 23.4 | If,<br> for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the<br> Company must, as soon as<br> practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles.<br> This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under<br> the next Article. |
Time of receipt if documents are published on a website
| 23.5 | Documents<br> sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only<br> treated as sent at least<br> five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear<br> Days before the date of the<br> meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and |
| (b) | the<br> person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing. |
Validitydespite accidental error in publication on website
| 23.6 | If,<br> for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance<br> with the preceding Articles,<br> the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because: |
|---|---|
| (a) | those<br> documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or |
| (b) | they<br> are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting. |
Audit
| 23.7 | The<br> directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the<br> directors determine. |
|---|---|
| 23.8 | Without<br> prejudice to the freedom of the directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares<br> (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange,<br> and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall establish and maintain<br> an Audit Committee as a committee of the directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit<br> Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an<br> annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with<br> the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee<br> shall meet at least once every financial<br> quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
| 36 |
| --- |
| 23.9 | If<br> the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct<br> an appropriate review of<br> all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee<br> for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
|---|---|
| 23.10 | The<br> remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 23.11 | If<br> the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming<br> incapable of acting by reason<br> of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the directors shall<br> fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 23.12 | Every<br> Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts<br> and vouchers of the Company<br> and shall be entitled to require from the directors and officers of the Company such information<br> and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 23.13 | Auditors<br> shall, if so required by the directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during<br> their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in<br> the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary<br> company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the<br> case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company,<br> and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the directors<br> or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 24.14 | Any<br> payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and<br> approval of the directors,<br> with any director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval. |
| 24.15 | The<br> Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee<br> shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance<br> with the terms of the IPO. |
| 24. | Financial year |
| --- | --- |
Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:
| (a) | shall<br> end on 31st December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and |
|---|---|
| (b) | shall<br> begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year. |
| 25. | Record dates |
| --- | --- |
Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the directors may fix any time and date as the record date for:
| (a) | calling<br> a general meeting; |
|---|---|
| (b) | declaring<br> or paying a dividend; |
| (c) | making<br> or issuing an allotment of Shares; or |
| (d) | conducting<br> any other business required pursuant to these Articles. |
The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.
| 37 |
| --- | |
|---|---|
| --- | --- |
Declarationof dividends by Members
| 26.1 | Subject<br> to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in<br> accordance with the respective<br> rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
|---|
Paymentof interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors
| 26.2 | The<br> directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective<br> rights of the Members if<br> it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that<br> such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
|---|---|
| 26.3 | Subject<br> to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
| (a) | Upon<br> determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the<br> dividend resolution, no debt<br> shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made. |
| (b) | Upon<br> declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately<br> following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution. |
If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.
| 26.4 | In<br> relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed<br> rate, the following applies: |
|---|---|
| (a) | If<br> the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares<br> which confer deferred or non- preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares<br> which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on<br> Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment,<br> any preferential dividend is in arrears. |
| (b) | The<br> directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate<br> if it appears to them that<br> there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify<br> the payment. |
| (c) | If<br> the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding<br> Shares conferring preferred<br> rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any<br> Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Apportionmentof dividends
| 26.5 | Except<br> as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and<br> paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends<br> shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during<br> the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. If a Share is issued<br> on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that<br> Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
|---|
| 38 |
| --- |
Rightof set off
| 26.6 | The<br> directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of<br> a Share any amount due by<br> that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
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Powerto pay other than in cash
| 26.7 | If<br> the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall<br> be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation<br> to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty<br> in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | issue<br> fractional Shares; |
| (b) | fix<br> the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing<br> of the value so fixed in<br> order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
| (c) | vest<br> some assets in trustees. |
Howpayments may be made
| 26.8 | A<br> dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
|---|---|
| (a) | if<br> the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account<br> for that purpose - by wire<br> transfer to that bank account; or |
| (b) | by<br> cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share<br> or other person entitled<br> to that Share. |
| 26.9 | For<br> the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or<br> in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another<br> person. For the purpose of paragraph (b)<br> of the preceding Article, subject to any Applicable Law or regulation, the cheque or warrant<br> shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the<br> Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment<br> of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
| 26.10 | If<br> two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to<br> it by reason of the death or<br> bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable<br> on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
| (a) | to<br> the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register<br> of Members or to the registered<br> address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
| (b) | to<br> the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that<br> nomination is in writing<br> or in an Electronic Record. |
| 26.11 | Any<br> Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable<br> in respect of that Share. |
Dividendsor other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights
| 26.12 | Unless<br> provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the<br> Company in respect of a Share<br> shall bear interest. |
|---|
| 39 |
| --- |
Dividendsunable to be paid or unclaimed
| 26.13 | If<br> a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was<br> declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s<br> name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account,<br> the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend<br> shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
|---|---|
| 26.14 | A<br> dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment<br> shall be forfeited to, and<br> shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
| 27. | Capitalisation of profits |
| --- | --- |
Capitalisationof profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve
| 27.1 | The<br> directors may resolve to capitalise: |
|---|---|
| (a) | any<br> part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available<br> for distribution); or |
| (b) | any<br> sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:
| (a) | by<br> paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; |
|---|---|
| (b) | by<br> issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or<br> as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in<br> respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that<br> the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain<br> partly paid. |
Applyingan amount for the benefit of members
| 27.2 | The<br> amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which<br> the Members would have been<br> entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
|---|---|
| 27.3 | Subject<br> to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member,<br> the directors may issue a<br> fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
| 28. | Share premium account |
| --- | --- |
directorsto maintain share premium account
| 28.1 | The<br> directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall<br> carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value<br> of the premium paid on the issue of any Share<br> or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act. |
|---|
Debitsto share premium account
| 28.2 | The<br> following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
|---|---|
| (a) | on<br> the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price;<br> and |
| (b) | any<br> other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act. |
| 40 |
| --- | | 28.3 | Notwithstanding<br> the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the<br> difference between the nominal<br> value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or,<br> as permitted by the Act, out of capital. | | --- | --- | | 29. | Seal | | --- | --- |
Companyseal
| 29.1 | The<br> Company may have a seal if the directors so determine. |
|---|
Duplicateseal
| 29.2 | Subject<br> to the provisions of the Act, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Islands.<br> Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate<br> seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
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Whenand how seal is to be used
| 29.3 | A<br> seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine,<br> a document to which a seal<br> is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
|---|---|
| (a) | by<br> a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by<br> a single director (or his alternate). |
Ifno seal is adopted or used
| 29.4 | If<br> the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
|---|---|
| (a) | by<br> a director (or his alternate) or any Officer to which authority has been delegated by resolution duly adopted by the directors; or |
| (b) | by<br> a single director (or his alternate); or |
| (c) | in<br> any other manner permitted by the Act. |
Powerto allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
| 29.5 | The<br> directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
|---|---|
| (a) | that<br> the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other<br> method or system of reproduction; |
| (b) | that<br> a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
| 41 |
| --- |
Validityof execution
| 29.6 | If<br> a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be<br> regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director,<br> or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf<br> of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and<br> authority on behalf of the Company. |
|---|---|
| 30. | Indemnity |
| --- | --- |
Indemnity
| 30.1 | To<br> the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former<br> Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including<br> an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives<br> against: |
|---|---|
| (a) | all<br> actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or<br> sustained by the existing or former Secretary, director or Officer in or about the conduct<br> of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution<br> or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s, director’s or Officer’s<br> duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
| (b) | without<br> limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing<br> or former Secretary, director or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise)<br> any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending<br> or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any<br> court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere. |
Such indemnity only applies if the directors are of the view that, in the absence of fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect, such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believes is in the best interests of the Company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. No such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.
| 30.2 | To<br> the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make<br> a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by<br> an existing or former Secretary, director or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter<br> identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the<br> Secretary, director or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that<br> it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary, director or that Officer for<br> those legal costs. |
|---|
Release
| 30.3 | To<br> the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any<br> existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of<br> the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise<br> out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities<br> or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of<br> or in connection with that person’s own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect. |
|---|
| 42 |
| --- |
Insurance
| 30.4 | To<br> the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in<br> respect of a contract insuring<br> each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability<br> arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
|---|---|
| (a) | an<br> existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
| (i) | the<br> Company; |
| (ii) | a<br> company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; |
| (iii) | a<br> company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
| (b) | a<br> trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or<br> was interested. |
| 31. | Notices |
| --- | --- |
Formof notices
| 31.1 | Save<br> where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant<br> to these Articles shall be: |
|---|---|
| (a) | in<br> writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
| (b) | subject<br> to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic<br> Signature and authenticated<br> in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
| (c) | where<br> these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
Electroniccommunications
| 31.2 | Without<br> limitation to Articles 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by<br> directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 19.8to 19.10 inclusive (relating to the<br> appointment by directors of proxies), a notice<br> may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> directors so resolve; |
| (b) | the<br> resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an<br> email address for the Company;<br> and |
| (c) | the<br> terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable,<br> to those directors who were<br> absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed. |
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
| 31.3 | A<br> notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the<br> recipient has notified the<br> giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
|---|
Personsauthorised to give notices
| 31.4 | A<br> notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf<br> of the Company or a Member<br> by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
|---|
| 43 |
| --- |
Deliveryof written notices
| 31.5 | Save<br> where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the<br> recipient, or left at (as<br> appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s<br> registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
|---|
Joint holders
| 31.6 | Where<br> Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the Register of Members. |
|---|
Signatures
| 31.7 | A<br> written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its<br> execution or adoption by the giver. |
|---|---|
| 31.8 | An<br> Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
Evidenceof transmission
| 31.9 | A<br> notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating<br> the time, date and content<br> of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
|---|---|
| 31.10 | A<br> notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope<br> containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice<br> was otherwise properly transmitted to<br> the recipient. |
Givingnotice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
| 31.11 | A<br> notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the<br> death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by<br> these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the<br> title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description,<br> at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to<br> be so entitled. |
|---|---|
| 31.12 | Until<br> such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy<br> had not occurred. |
Dateof giving notices
| 31.13 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following<br> table. |
|---|---|
| Method for giving notices | When taken to be given |
| --- | --- |
| Personally | At<br> the time and date of delivery |
| By<br> leaving it at the member’s registered address | At<br> the time and date it was left |
| By<br> posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal<br> address of that recipient | 48<br> hours after it was posted |
| By<br> Electronic Record (other than publication on<br> a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | Within<br> 24 hours after it was sent |
| By<br> publication on a website | See<br> these Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports,<br> as the case may be, are published on a website |
Savingprovision
| 31.14 | None<br> of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from these Articles about the delivery<br> of written resolutions of<br> directors and written resolutions of Members. |
|---|
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| 32. | Authentication of Electronic Records |
|---|
Applicationof Articles
| 32.1 | Without<br> limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other<br> document under these Articles<br> that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other<br> Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 32.2 or Article<br> 32.4 applies. |
|---|
Authenticationof documents sent by Members by Electronic means
| 32.2 | An<br> Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means<br> by or on behalf of one or<br> more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose<br> Original Document includes<br> several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (b) | the<br> Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction<br> of, that Member to an address<br> specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article<br> 32.7 does not apply. |
| 32.3 | For<br> example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original<br> resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles<br> specified for that purpose, the facsimile<br> copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 32.7 applies. |
| 45 |
| --- |
Authenticationof document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
| 32.4 | An<br> Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf<br> of the Secretary or an Officer<br> or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are<br> satisfied: |
|---|---|
| (a) | the<br> Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document<br> includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and |
| (b) | the<br> Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer<br> to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article<br> 32.7 does not apply. |
This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.
| 32.5 | For<br> example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it<br> to be scanned, as a PDF version<br> which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose,<br> the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article<br> 32.7 applies. |
|---|
Mannerof signing
| 32.6 | For<br> the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed<br> manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
|---|
Savingprovision
| 32.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles ill not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
|---|---|
| (a) | believes that<br>the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or |
| (b) | believes<br>that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed<br>the original document; or |
| (c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record<br> of the document and<br>the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender<br>may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit. |
| 33. | Transfer by way of continuation |
|---|---|
| 33.1 | The<br> Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a<br> jurisdiction outside: |
| --- | --- |
| (a) | the<br> Islands; or |
| (b) | such<br> other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
| 46 |
| --- | | 33.2 | To<br> give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following: | | --- | --- | | (a) | an<br> application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands<br> or in the other jurisdiction<br> in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and | | (b) | all<br> such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. | | 34. | Winding up | | --- | --- |
Distributionof assets in specie
| 34.1 | If<br> the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction<br> required by the Act, pass<br> a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
|---|---|
| (a) | to<br> divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and,<br> for that purpose, to value<br> any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members<br> or different classes of Members; |
| (b) | to<br> vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those<br> liable to contribute to the<br> winding up. |
Noobligation to accept liability
| 34.2 | No<br> Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
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Thedirectors are authorised to present a winding up petition
| 34.3 | The<br> directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the<br> Grand Court of the Cayman<br> Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general<br> meeting. |
|---|---|
| 35. | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
| --- | --- |
Powerto change name or amend Memorandum
| 35.1 | Subject<br> to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
|---|---|
| (a) | change<br> its name; or |
| (b) | change<br> the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter<br> specified in the Memorandum. |
Powerto amend these Articles
| 35.2 | Subject<br> to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend<br> these Articles in whole or<br> in part. |
|---|---|
| 36. | Mergers and Consolidations |
| --- | --- |
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Act) upon such terms as the directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Act) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
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| --- | |
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| --- | --- |
| 37.1 | Notwithstanding<br> any other provision of these Articles, this Article 37 shall apply during the period commencing<br> upon the adoption of these Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation<br> of any Business Combination and the distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article<br> 37.10. In the event of a conflict between this Article 37 and any other Articles, the provisions<br> of this Article 37 shall prevail and this Article may not be amended<br> prior to the consummation of a Business Combination without a Special Resolution. |
| --- | --- |
| 37.2 | Prior<br> to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Company shall either: |
| (a) | submit<br> such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or |
| (b) | provide<br> Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer<br> (a Tender Offer) for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate<br> amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to<br> the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held<br> in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any,<br> divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, provided that the Company shall not<br> repurchase Public Shares<br> in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets (after payment of the<br> deferred underwriting commissions) to be less than US$5,000,001. |
| 37.3 | If<br> the Company initiates any Tender Offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of<br> the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file Tender<br> Offer documents with the SEC prior to completing such Business Combination which contain<br> substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and<br> the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. |
| 37.4 | If,<br> alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions<br> in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the Tender Offer rules,<br> and file proxy materials with the SEC. |
| 37.5 | At<br> a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business<br> Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination. |
| 37.6 | Any<br> Member holding Public Shares who is not a Founder, Officer or director may, contemporaneously<br> with any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash<br> (the IPO Redemption), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate<br> of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, syndicate,<br> or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise<br> this redemption right with respect to more than 15% of the Public Shares without the Company’s<br> prior consent, and provided further that any holder that holds Public Shares beneficially<br> through a nominee must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election<br> in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. In connection with any vote held to approve<br> a proposed Business Combination, holders of Public Shares seeking to exercise their redemption<br> rights will be required to either tender their certificates (if any) to the Company’s<br> transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The<br> Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s<br> option, in each case up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the<br> proposal to approve a Business Combination. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such<br> redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business<br> Combination or abstains from voting, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal<br> to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business<br> days prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, including interest earned on the<br> Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided<br> by the number of Public Shares then in issue (such redemption price being referred to herein<br> as the Redemption Price), provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares<br> in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001<br> either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the initial Business Combination<br> and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions. |
| --- | --- |
| 48 |
| --- | | 37.7 | The<br> Redemption Price shall be paid promptly following the consummation of the relevant Business<br> Combination. If the proposed Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason<br> then such redemptions shall be<br> cancelled and share certificates (if any) returned to the relevant Members as appropriate. | | --- | --- | | 37.8 | The<br> Company has until September 19, 2024 (the Termination Date) to consummate a Business<br> Combination, provided however that if the Board of Directors anticipates that the Company<br> may not be able to consummate a Business Combination by the Termination Date, the Company<br> may, by Resolution of Directors, at the request of the Sponsors, extend the period of time<br> to consummate a Business Combination up to nine (9) times, each by an additional (1) one<br> month (for a total of up to nine (9) months after the Termination Date to complete a Business<br> Combination), subject to the Sponsors depositing additional funds into the Trust Account<br> upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadline in accordance with<br> terms as set out in the Trust Agreement and referred to in the Registration Statement. In<br> the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by the Termination<br> Date (or 9 months after the Termination Date, subject in the latter case to valid extensions<br> having been made in each case) or such later time as the Members of the Company may approve<br> in accordance with these Articles,<br> the Company shall: | | (a) | cease<br> all operations except for the purpose of winding up; | | (b) | as<br> promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the<br> Public Shares, at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then<br> on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust<br> Account and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any (less up to<br> US$100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number<br> of the Public Shares then in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’<br> rights as Members (including<br> the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and | | (c) | as<br> promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the<br> Company’s remaining Members<br> and the directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each<br> case, to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and<br> in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law. If the Company shall wind<br> up for any other reason prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company<br> shall, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter,<br> follow the foregoing procedures set out in this Article 37.8 with respect to the liquidation<br> of the Trust Account, subject to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for<br> claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law. | | 37.9 | In<br> the event that any amendment is made to these Articles: | | --- | --- | | (a) | that<br> would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders<br> of Public Shares the right<br> to: | | (i) | have<br> their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with a Business Combination pursuant to<br> Articles 37.2(b) or 37.6;<br> or | | --- | --- | | (ii) | redeem<br> 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination by the Termination Date (or up to nine<br> (9) months after the Termination Date pursuant to Article 37.8,subject in the latter case to valid extensions having been made in<br> each case); or |
| 49 |
| --- | | (b) | with<br> respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Public Shares, each holder of Public Shares who is not a Founder,<br> Officer or director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment<br> (an Amendment Redemption) at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust<br> Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes,<br> if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue. | | --- | --- | | 37.10 | Except<br> for the withdrawal of interest to pay income taxes, if any, none of the funds held in the<br> Trust Account shall be released<br> from the Trust Account: | | --- | --- | | (a) | to<br> the Company, until completion of any Business Combination; or | | (b) | to<br> the Members holding Public Shares, until the earliest of: | | (i) | a<br> repurchase of Shares by means of a Tender Offer pursuant to Article 37.2(b); | | (ii) | an<br> IPO Redemption pursuant to Article 37.6; | | (iii) | a<br> distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 37.8; or | | (iv) | an<br> Amendment Redemption pursuant to Article 37.9. |
In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account.
| 37.11 | After<br> the issue of Public Shares (including pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option), and prior to<br> the consummation of a Business Combination, the directors shall not issue additional Shares<br> or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to: |
|---|---|
| (a) | receive<br> funds from the Trust Account; or |
| --- | --- |
| (b) | vote<br> as a class with the Public Shares: |
| --- | --- |
| (i) | on<br> a Business Combination or on any other proposal presented to Members prior to or in connection<br> with the completion of a Business Combination; or |
| --- | --- |
| (ii) | to<br> approve an amendment to these Articles to: |
| --- | --- |
| (A) | extend<br> the time the Company has to consummate a Business Combination beyond the Termination Date<br> or nine (9) months after the Termination Date pursuant to Article 37.8 (subject in the latter<br> case to valid extensions having been made in each case); or |
| --- | --- |
| (B) | amend<br> the foregoing provisions of these Articles. |
| --- | --- |
| 37.12 | The<br> Company must complete one or more Business Combinations, which must be with one or more operating<br> businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held<br> in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes,<br> if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable<br> on the interest earned on the trust account). An initial Business Combination must not be<br> effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations |
| --- | --- |
| 50 |
| --- | | 37.13 | The<br> uninterested Independent Directors shall approve any transaction or transactions between<br> the Company and any of the following parties: | | --- | --- | | (a) | any<br> Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant<br> influence over the Company; and | | --- | --- | | (b) | any<br> director or Officer of the Company and any Affiliate or relative of such director or Officer. | | --- | --- | | 37.14 | A<br> director may vote in respect of any Business Combination in which such director has a conflict<br> of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such director must<br> disclose such interest or conflict to the other directors. | | --- | --- | | 37.15 | The<br> Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with<br> the Sponsors, a Founder, the directors of the Company or Officers. In the event the Company<br> seeks to complete the Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsors,<br> a Founder, Officers or directors, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will<br> obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or<br> an independent accounting firm, that such a Business Combination or transaction is fair to<br> the Company from a financial point of view. | | --- | --- | | 37.16 | Any<br> Business Combination must be approved by the a majority of the Independent Directors. | | --- | --- | | 38. | Certain Tax Filings | | --- | --- | | 38.1 | Each<br> Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any director shall<br> designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9,<br> 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state<br> or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with<br> the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may<br> be approved from time to time by any director of the Company or an Officer. The Company further<br> ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other<br> person prior to the date of these Articles. | | --- | --- | | 39. | Business Opportunities | | 39.1 | In<br> recognition and anticipation of the facts that: (a) directors, managers, officers, members,<br> partners, managing members, employees and/or agents of one or more members of the Investor<br> Group (each of the foregoing, an “Investor Group Related Person”) may<br> serve as directors of the Company and/or Officers; and (b) the Investor Group engages, and<br> may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as<br> those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities<br> that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may<br> engage, the provisions under this heading “Business Opportunities” are set forth<br> to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve<br> the Members and the Investor Group Related Persons, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities<br> of the Company and its Officers,<br> directors and Members in connection therewith. | | 39.2 | To<br> the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors and officers of the Company<br> shall have no duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from<br> engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business<br> as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and subject to his or<br> her fiduciary duties under Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy<br> of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction<br> or matter which may be a corporate opportunity offered to any director and officer of the<br> Company, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, unless such opportunity is expressly<br> offered to such director or officer of the Company<br> solely in their capacity as an Officer or director of the Company and the opportunity is<br> one the Company is permitted to complete on a reasonable basis. | | 39.3 | Except<br> as provided elsewhere in these Articles, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy<br> of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction<br> or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and the Investor Group,<br> about which a director of the Company and/or<br> Officer who is also an Investor Group Related Person acquires knowledge. | | 39.4 | To<br> the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity<br> that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the<br> Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims<br> and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent<br> permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities<br> conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
| 51 |
| --- |
Exhibit21.1
SUBSIDIARIESOF BAYVIEW ACQUISITION CORP
None.
Exhibit31.1
CERTIFICATIONOF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Xin Wang, certify that:
| 1. | I<br> have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bayview Acquisition Corp; |
|---|---|
| 2. | Based<br> on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary<br> to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to<br> the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based<br> on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material<br> respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in<br> this report; |
| 4. | The<br> registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures<br> (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange<br> Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | designed<br> such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,<br> to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others<br> within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| --- | --- |
| b) | designed<br> such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our<br> supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements<br> for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | evaluated<br> the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about<br> the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;<br> and |
| d) | disclosed<br> in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s<br> most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected,<br> or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The<br> registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial<br> reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing<br> the equivalent functions): |
| --- | --- |
| a) | all<br> significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are<br> reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;<br> and |
| --- | --- |
| b) | any<br> fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s<br> internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: April 1, 2025
| /s/ Xin Wang |
|---|
| Xin<br> Wang |
| Chief<br> Executive Officer |
| (Principal<br> Executive Officer) |
Exhibit31.2
CERTIFICATIONOF PRINCIPAL Financial OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, David Bamper, certify that:
| 1. | I<br> have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bayview Acquisition Corp; |
|---|---|
| 2. | Based<br> on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary<br> to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to<br> the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based<br> on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material<br> respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in<br> this report; |
| 4. | The<br> registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures<br> (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange<br> Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | designed<br> such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,<br> to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others<br> within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| --- | --- |
| b) | designed<br> such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our<br> supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements<br> for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | evaluated<br> the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about<br> the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;<br> and |
| d) | disclosed<br> in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s<br> most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected,<br> or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The<br> registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial<br> reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing<br> the equivalent functions): |
| --- | --- |
| a) | all<br> significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are<br> reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;<br> and |
| --- | --- |
| b) | any<br> fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s<br> internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: April 1, 2025
| /s/ David Bamper |
|---|
| David<br> Bamper |
| Chief<br> Financial Officer |
| (Principal<br> Financial Officer) |
Exhibit32.1
CERTIFICATIONSPURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
ASADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THESARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bayview Acquisition Corp (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Xin Wang, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:
| 1. | The<br> Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
|---|---|
| 2. | The<br> information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations<br> of the Company. |
| Dated:<br> April 1, 2025 | /s/ Xin Wang |
| --- | --- |
| Xin<br> Wang | |
| Chief<br> Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit32.2
CERTIFICATIONSPURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
ASADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THESARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bayview Acquisition Corp (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, David Bamper, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:
| 1. | The<br> Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
|---|---|
| 2. | The<br> information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations<br> of the Company. |
| Dated:<br> April 1, 2025 | /s/ David Bamper |
| --- | --- |
| David<br> Bamper | |
| Chief<br> Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Financial Officer) |