BTC Development Corp S-1/A, filed Aug 29, 2025
BTC Development Corp. (BDCI)
As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2025
Registration No. 333-289705
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________________________________
Amendment No. 1
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
________________________________________________
BTC Development Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________________________________
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Cayman Islands |
6770 |
98-1816717 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
(Primary Standard Industrial |
(I.R.S. Employer |
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: (267) 703-4396
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
________________________________________________
Betsy Z. Cohen
c/o BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: (215) 701-9555
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
________________________________________________
Copies to:
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Todd A. Hentges |
Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq. |
________________________________________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an 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.
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Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
☐ |
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Non-accelerated filer |
☒ |
Smaller reporting company |
☒ |
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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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
BTC Development Corp. is filing this Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”) to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-289705) as an exhibits-only filing to file the exhibits attached hereto. Accordingly, this Amendment consists only of the facing page, the explanatory note, Part II of the Registration Statement, the signature pages to the Registration Statement and the filed exhibits. The prospectuses are unchanged and have been omitted.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
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Legal fees and expenses |
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775,000 |
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Accounting fees and expenses |
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175,000 |
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SEC/FINRA Expenses |
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71,000 |
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Nasdaq listing |
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85,000 |
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Printing and engraving expenses |
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60,000 |
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Miscellaneous expenses |
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40,000 |
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Total offering expenses(1) |
$ |
1,206,000 |
____________
(1) This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by us in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including distribution and mailing costs, transfer agent fees, warrant agent fees and trustee fees.
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
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, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide 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 or willful default. We may 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.
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.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
Upon our incorporation, our sponsors paid certain offering costs that aggregated to $25,000 and subsequently received 8,686,667 founder shares in exchange.
Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsors are accredited investors for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D.
In addition, our sponsors, CCM and KBW have committed to purchase an aggregate of 760,000 placement units for an aggregate purchase price of $7.60 million in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
II-1
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
____________
* Previously filed.
(b) Financial Statements. See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
II-2
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(4) For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
II-3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 29th day of August, 2025.
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BTC Development Corp. |
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By: |
/s/ Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
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Name: |
Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
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Title: |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Name |
Position |
Date |
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/s/ Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
August 29, 2025 |
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Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ R. Maxwell Smeal |
Chief Financial Officer |
August 29, 2025 |
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R. Maxwell Smeal |
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
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* |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
August 29, 2025 |
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Betsy Z. Cohen |
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* |
Director |
August 29, 2025 |
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Jonathan Kirkwood |
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* |
Director |
August 29, 2025 |
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Andrew Hohns |
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* |
Director |
August 29, 2025 |
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Grant Gilliam |
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* |
Director |
August 29, 2025 |
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Hersh Kozlov |
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*By: |
/s/ Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
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Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. |
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Attorney-in-Fact |
Authorized Representative in the United States:
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/s/ R. Maxwell Smeal |
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Name: |
R. Maxwell Smeal |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: |
August 29, 2025 |
II-4
Exhibit 10.3
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [---], 2025, by and between BTC Development Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[---]) (the “Registration Statement”), and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (each, an “Ordinary Share”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Cohen & Co. Capital Markets (“Cohen”) and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (“KBW”), as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $220.0 million of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $253.0 million if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $8,800,000, or $10,780,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that may be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) Promptly upon receipt of written instruction of the Company, (i) invest and reinvest the Property, initially solely in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, (ii) hold the Property as uninvested cash or (iii) hold the Property in an interest or non-interest bearing demand deposit account at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of US$100 billion or more selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; and while the account funds are invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representatives of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements or completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s auditors;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
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(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the Company and, in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representatives, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable or owed and, in the case of Exhibit B, less up to $100,000 of interest income to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses, and in the case of Exhibit E, net of Permitted Withdrawals (as defined in the Registration Statement)), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a definitive agreement for its initial Business Combination (defined below) within 24 months from the closing of the Offering but has not completed its initial Business Combination within such 24-month period, or such earlier date as the Company’s board of directors may approve); and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as may be amended from time to time or (z) upon the end of a 30-day cure period after the date any additional amount of funds were required to be deposited in the Trust Account as a condition of any extension of such date approved by the Company’s shareholders but were not deposited, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated by the Trustee in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable or owed and Permitted Withdrawals (as defined in the Registration Statement) and up to US$100,000 of interest income to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date;
(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any franchise or income tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; plus any additional amounts required to be deposited for an extension of the last date to complete a business combination as a condition of any extension of such date approved by the Company’s shareholders; provided, further, however, that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill for the Company and a written statement from the principal financial officer of the Company setting forth the actual amount payable (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
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(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem Ordinary Shares from Public Shareholders properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”) or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-seven (27) months, as applicable), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
(l) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit E (a “Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company up to an aggregate of US$400,000 per annum of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to fund working capital requirements (a “Working Capital Withdrawal”), which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company to fund such purposes, so long as there is no reduction in the principal aggregated amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to fund such Working Capital Withdrawal, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and
(m) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j), (k) or (l) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
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(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all reasonable and documented expenses, including reasonable outside counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld conditioned, or delayed; provided, further that the Company may conduct and manage the defense against any Indemnified Claim if the Trustee does not promptly take reasonable steps to mount such a defense. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(j) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c) and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the shareholder meeting verifying the vote of such shareholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Representatives with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;
(f) Expressly provide in any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the Form of Exhibit A that the Deferred Discount be paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representatives; and
(g) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement.
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3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;
(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee with written notification to the Company, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) hereof.
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4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement (whether following the Trustee giving notice that it desires to resign under this Agreement or the Company otherwise electing to replace the Trustee under this Agreement), the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever;
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b); or
(c) If the Offering is not consummated within ten (10) business days of the date of this Agreement, in which case any funds received by the Trustee from the Company, BTC Development Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), or the Representatives, for purposes of funding the Trust Account shall be promptly returned to the Company, Sponsor or the Representatives, as applicable.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or out-of-pocket expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
7
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Section 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty five percent (65%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote sought to amend this Agreement), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery, by electronic mail or by facsimile transmission:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com
Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
if to the Company, to:
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Attn: R. Maxwell Smeal
Email: max@cohencircle.com
8
in each case, with copies to:
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
101 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10178
Attn: Rahul K. Patel, Esq.
Email: rahul.patel@morganlewis.com
and
Cohen & Co. Capital Markets
a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC
3 Columbus Circle, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attn: R. Maxwell Smeal
Email: max@cohencircle.com
and
[---]
and
Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Douglas Ellenoff, Esq. and Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Email: ellenoff@egsllp.com; and sneuhauser@egsllp.com
(f) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
(g) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives are third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
(j) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the other party.
[Signature page follows]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Francis Wolf | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Bracebridge H. Young, Jr. | |
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]
10
SCHEDULE A
| Fee Item | Time and Method of Payment | Amount | ||||
| Initial acceptance fee | Initial closing of the Offering by wire transfer. | $ | 2,000 | |||
| Annual fee | First year fee payable at initial closing of the Offering by wire transfer, thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the Offering by wire transfer or check. | $ | 8,000 | |||
| Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(j) | Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(j) | $ | 150 | |||
| Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) | Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) | Prevailing rates | ||||
Sched. A-1
EXHIBIT A
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Dear Francis and Celeste:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between BTC Development Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [ ] (the “Target Business”) to consummate a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with the Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that Cohen & Co. Capital Markets (“Cohen”) and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (“KBW”) , as representatives (the “Representatives”) (with respect to the Deferred Discount) and the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account awaiting distribution, neither the Company nor the Representatives will earn any interest.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated immediately prior to your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) an affidavit or a certificate by the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders, if a vote is held and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
A-1
In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice as soon thereafter as possible.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Cohen & Co. Capital Markets | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
A-2
EXHIBIT B
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Dear Francis and Celeste:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between BTC Development Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account to await distribution to the Public Shareholders, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 to cover dissolution expenses of the Company. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such amount for dissolution expenses of $_____ promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION].
The Company has selected [ ] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| cc: | Cohen & Co. Capital Markets |
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
B-1
EXHIBIT C
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Francis and Celeste:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between BTC Development Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[ ] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| cc: | Cohen & Co. Capital Markets |
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
C-1
EXHIBIT D
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Dear Francis and Celeste:
Re: Trust Account - Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between BTC Development Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Shareholders on behalf of the Company $[ ] of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Shareholders who have properly elected to have their Ordinary Shares redeemed by the Company in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the redeeming Public Shareholders in accordance with your customary procedures.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| cc: | Cohen & Co. Capital Markets |
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
D-1
EXHIBIT E
BTC Development Corp.
2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Philadelphia, PA 19104
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account – Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Francis and Celeste:
Pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between BTC Development Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[ ] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds for working capital, subject to a limit of US$400,000 per annum. For the current year ending , US$ has been disbursed to date (including the amounts requested hereunder). In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| BTC Development Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| cc: | Cohen & Co. Capital Markets |
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
E-1