As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2025.
Registration No. 333-[*]
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its constitutional documents)
| Cayman Islands | 6770 | N/A | ||
(State
or other jurisdiction of |
(Primary
Standard Industrial |
(I.R.S.
Employer |
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
212-829-8937
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
William Rosenstadt
Chief Executive Officer
c/o Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
212-829-8937
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Giovanni Caruso, Esq. Loeb & Loeb LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 212-407-4000 |
Robert H. Cohen, Esq. McDermott Will & Emery LLP One Vanderbilt Avenue New York, NY 10017-3852 212-547-9000 |
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.
| 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 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 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
| PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 26, 2025 |
$69,000,000
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
6,900,000 Units
Blueport Acquisition Ltd is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. We have not selected any business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region. We intend to conduct a global search for target businesses without being limited by geographic region.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit that we are offering has a price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus. We refer to the rights included in the units as “rights.”
We have granted A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“A.G.P.”), the representative of the underwriters, a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,035,000 units (over and above the 6,900,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide the holders of our outstanding ordinary shares that were sold in this offering with the opportunity to redeem their shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below, including interest (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding ordinary shares that were sold in this offering, which we refer to as our “public shares” throughout this prospectus, subject to the limitations described herein. See “Summary — The Offering — Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination” and “Summary — The Offering — Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination” for more information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, 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 post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those shareholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. See “Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419- Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote” for further discussion on certain limitations on redemption rights. We have determined not to consummate any business combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from our trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, the net tangible asset threshold may limit our ability to consummate such initial business combination (as we may be required to have a lesser number of shares redeemed) and may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all.
We have 15 months from the closing of this offering to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, our public shareholders will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable laws. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the 15-month period or such period that may be extended, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable), pro rata to our public shareholders, by way of the redemption of their shares and thereafter cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein.
Our sponsor, Blueport Acquisition Corporation, a Nevada corporation, has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 units (or up to 315,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “private units”) at $10.00 per private unit for a total purchase price of $2,990,000 (or $3,150,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. These private units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to limited exceptions as further described herein. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.
Our sponsor has purchased an aggregate of 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares for an aggregate of $25,000, up to 258,750 of which will be surrendered to us for no consideration after the closing of this offering depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised, which will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holders thereof on a one-for-one basis, subject to the adjustments described herein. Because our sponsor acquired the Class B ordinary shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our Class B ordinary shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. Prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares (i) will have the right to vote to appoint and remove directors prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to vote on continuing our company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of our approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands). On any other matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, holders of the Class B ordinary shares and holders of the Class A ordinary shares will vote together as a single class, except as required by law. Additionally, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. Up to $1,500,000 of working capital loans (“Working Capital Loans”) made by the sponsor, prior to or in connection with its initial business combination may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of our sponsor. Following consummation of a business combination, members of our management team will be entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between members of our management team, our sponsor and its affiliates on one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. See “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Summary — Conflicts of Interest”, “Summary — The Offering — Initial Shares and Transfer Restrictions”, and “Summary — The Offering — Limited payments to insiders” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the initial shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline.” for further discussion on our sponsor’s and our affiliates’ securities and compensation.
As more fully discussed in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. In February 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our sponsor, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share. The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the initial shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Our management team may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business, as our sponsor and members of our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. These interests of our sponsor, executive officers and directors may affect the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to a business combination in a way that conflicts with the interests of our public shareholders. Additionally, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the initial shares and private units may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. Up to $1,500,000 of working capital loans (“Working Capital Loans”) made by the sponsor, prior to or in connection with its initial business combination may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of our sponsor. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between our sponsor and its affiliates on the one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other hand. See the sections titled “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Summary — Conflicts of Interest”, “Risk Factors — Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses, thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination”, and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for more information.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our units, ordinary shares or rights. We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “BPAC” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A ordinary shares and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless A.G.P. informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and rights will be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “BPAC” and “BPACR” respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
No offer or invitation to subscribe for units may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands.
| Per Unit | Total | |||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 69,000,000 | ||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | 0.35 | $ | 2,415,000 | ||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 9.65 | $ | 66,585,000 | ||||
| (1) | Includes (i) $0.15 per unit, or $1,035,000 (or $1,190,250 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters in cash upon the consummation of this initial public offering, and (ii) $0.20 per unit, or $1,380,000 (or $1,587,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, for deferred underwriting commissions that will be placed in a trust account in the United States as described herein and payable to the underwriters in cash upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Excludes certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters. |
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private units described in this prospectus, $69,000,000, or $79,350,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit or 100% of the gross proceeds of the offering in either case), will be deposited into a United States-based trust account at a United States chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by Wilmington Trust, National Association, (“Wilmington Trust”) acting as trustee. Such amount includes $0.20 per unit, or $1,380,000 (or $1,587,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting discounts and commissions only upon the completion of our initial business combination. Except as described in this prospectus, these funds will not be released to us until the earlier of the completion of our initial business combination and our liquidation upon our failure to consummate a business combination within the required time period. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after we consummate our initial business combination.
In February 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our sponsor, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share. Because our sponsor acquired the initial shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the rights included in the units. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the initial shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our initial shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. See the section titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the initial shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline.”
To illustrate, the table below shows possible sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming public shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of this offering. The table below assumes: Scenario A) 25% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, Scenario B) 50% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, Scenario C) 75% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, and Scenario D) maximum of our public shares redemption that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001 are redeemed. See section entitled “Dilution” for more information.
| As of February 28, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| Without Over-Allotment Option Exercised | ||||||||||||||||
| Scenario
A 25% redemptions(1) | Scenario
B 50% redemptions(2) | Scenario
C 75% redemptions(3) | Scenario
D Maximum redemptions(4) | |||||||||||||
| Offering price of $10.00 included in the units (adjusted to include the value of the rights) | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | ||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share, as adjusted | 6.20 | 5.32 | 3.92 | 1.34 | ||||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 2.37 | $ | 3.25 | $ | 4.65 | $ | 7.23 | ||||||||
| (1) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 1,594,827 public shares, or 25%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (2) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 3,189,654 public shares, or 50%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (3) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 4,784,480 public shares, or 75%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (4) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed, which is the maximum redemptions that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001. |
| As of February 28, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| With Over-Allotment Option Exercised | ||||||||||||||||
| Scenario
A 25% redemptions(1) | Scenario
B 50% redemptions(2) | Scenario
C 75% redemptions(3) | Scenario
D Maximum redemptions(4) | |||||||||||||
| Offering price of $10.00 included in the units (adjusted to include the value of the rights) | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | ||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share, as adjusted | 6.20 | 5.31 | 3.88 | 1.19 | ||||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 2.37 | $ | 3.26 | $ | 4.69 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||
| (1) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 1,850,867 public shares, or 25%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (2) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 3,701,735 public shares, or 50%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (3) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 5,552,602 public shares, or 75%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (4) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed, which is the maximum redemption that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001. |
Our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Additionally, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. See the sections titled “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for more information.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm-commitment basis. Delivery of the units will be made on or about [●], 2025.
Sole Book-Running Manager
A.G.P.
The date of this prospectus is , 2025
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
i
This summary highlights certain information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. For a more complete understanding of this offering, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the risk factors and the financial statements. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, references to:
| ● | “Companies Act” are to the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as may be amended from time to time; |
| ● | “Completion Window” are to (i) the period ending on the date that is 15 months from the closing of this offering, or such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, in which we must complete an initial business combination or (ii) such other time period in which we must complete an initial business combination pursuant to an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (in which case our public shareholders will be offered an opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such amendment); |
| ● | “Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
| ● | “initial shareholders ” are to the holders of our initial shares prior to this offering; |
| ● | “initial shares” are to the 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares initially issued to our sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering (including up to an aggregate of 258,750 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part); |
| ● | “insiders” are to our initial shareholders and all of our officers and directors; |
| ● | “Investment Company Act” are to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; |
| ● | “letter agreements” are to the agreements to be executed among us, the underwriters, our officers, directors and initial shareholders on the date of this prospectus; |
| ● | “post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” are to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering; |
| ● | “private shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares included as part of the private units; |
| ● | “private units” are to the units (1) to be issued to our sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and (2) upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, which units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain restrictions and exceptions as described in this prospectus; |
| ● | “public shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares being sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market); |
| ● | “public shareholders” are to the holders of the public shares, whether they are purchased in the public offering or in the aftermarket, including any of our initial shareholders to the extent that they purchase such public shares (except that our initial shareholders will not have conversion or tender rights with respect to any public shares they own); |
| ● | “rights” are to the rights which are being sold as part of the units in this offering and in the private placement to the sponsor; |
| ● | “Securities Act” are to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
| ● | “sponsor” are to Blueport Acquisition Corporation; |
1
| ● | “US Dollars” and “S” are to the legal currency of the United States; and |
| ● | “we,” “us,” “our company” and “the company” are to Blueport Acquisition Ltd. |
Except as specifically provided otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
All references in this prospectus to our initial shares being forfeited shall take effect as surrenders for no consideration of such shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law. All references to the conversion of Class B ordinary shares into Class A shall take effect as a redemption of Class B ordinary shares and issuance of the corresponding Class A ordinary shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
As a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we do not have any subsidiaries as of the date of this prospectus, and no transfers, dividends, or distributions of any earnings or settlement of any amounts have been made by us to date.
General
We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on January 13, 2025 as an exempted company with limited liability (meaning that our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of our company, for the liabilities of our company over and above the amount paid for their shares). We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.” Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular geographic location. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business.
Competitive Strengths
Our management team is led by William Rosenstadt, our chairman and chief executive officer, who has been a practicing corporate and securities lawyer since 1995. Mr. Rosenstadt is also the founding member and the managing partner of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP, an international law firm, formed in 2006. Mr. Rosenstadt received his Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1995 and his Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 1990. Our mission is to maximize shareholder value by identifying an acquisition target with significant growth prospects. The breadth and depth of our management team’s experience empower us to adeptly identify, thoroughly assess, and strategically structure transactions to the advantage of all shareholders. Additionally, we are positioned to source deals through our sponsor or their affiliates, enhancing our capacity to realize our strategic objectives. We believe we have the following key competitive strengths.
Seasoned management team with proven track record
Leveraging the extensive experience of our management team, which comprises executives of different companies across multiple sectors and industries, we have a distinct advantage in sourcing, evaluating and consummating an attractive transaction. We believe that our management’s track record of identifying and sourcing business combination targets positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential candidates and select the one that will be well received by the public markets
2
Differentiated access to deal sourcing and leading industry relationships
Our target identification and selection process will leverage the broad and deep relationship network of our management team, sponsor and other strategic and operating partners across corporate executives, founders, venture capitalists and private equity firms. We believe that, through their broad range of industry contacts and deep industry insights, we are well-positioned to identify and access a differentiated pipeline of high-quality business combination opportunities. We expect these sourcing capabilities will be further bolstered by our reputation and deep industry relationships.
Strong understanding of the public and private markets
We believe that the significant experience of our management team in general corporate governance, capital markets and M&A transactions will greatly assist us in consummating transactions at attractive valuations. Our ability to assess potential target companies at a high diligence standard increases the likelihood that a company is suitable for public listing, together with our experienced judgement on how well a target company will trade in the public markets, will be essential to our selection process and ability to create shareholder value.
Robust execution and structuring capabilities
Our combined expertise and reputation will allow us to source and complete transactions possessing structural attributes that create an attractive investment thesis. These types of transactions are typically complex and require creativity, industry knowledge and expertise, rigorous due diligence, and extensive negotiations and documentation. We believe that by focusing our investment activities on these types of transactions, we are able to generate investment opportunities that have attractive risk/reward profiles based on their valuations and structural characteristics.
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to any particular industry or geographic region. Specifically, we will adopt the following major acquisition strategy:
| ● | leverage our management team’s operational expertise, successful deal experience and extensive knowledge in a broad sector horizon to effectively and efficiently seek acquisition opportunities and may pursue targets in any industry or geography; |
| ● | leverage the unique combination of proven deal execution capabilities, extensive relationship networks and professional investment track record of our sponsor and management team’s extensive experience with listed companies, capital market transactions and investing in companies across a wide range of sectors; |
| ● | focus our search for a target company that has compelling economics, potential for high recurring revenue, a defensible market position, and successful management teams that are seeking access to the public capital markets; |
| ● | generate attractive returns and create value for our shareholders by applying a disciplined strategy of identifying attractive investment opportunities that could benefit from the addition of capital, management expertise and strategic insights; |
| ● | identify an opportunity where our management team’s expertise could effect a positive transformation of the existing business to improve the overall value propositions while maximizing shareholder value; |
| ● | identify companies that are under-performing their potential due to a temporary period of dislocation in the markets; and |
| ● | source initial business combination opportunities through the extensive networks of our management team, sponsor and their affiliates, including seasoned executives and operators, private equity investors, lenders, attorneys and family offices, that we believe will provide our management team with a robust flow of acquisition opportunities. |
3
Our management team has decades of combined experience setting and implementing strategies to grow revenues and improve profitability, including developing growth initiatives, developing capital allocation strategies, reducing expenses to increase earnings or to redeploy capital into more beneficial initiatives, pursuing add-on acquisitions and divestitures, engaging in capital markets and other financing or restructuring activities, evaluating, changing or enhancing management when appropriate, and crafting other initiatives.
To execute our business strategy, we intend to:
| ● | utilize our management team’s extensive network of company owners, management teams, financial intermediaries and others to identify appropriate candidates for a possible business combination; |
| ● | conduct rigorous research and analysis of various industries and companies to identify promising potential targets; |
| ● | conduct a rigorous and thorough due diligence review of the targets under consideration, including an analysis of overall industry and competitive conditions and of company specific information, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, competitor analysis and reviews of operational, financial and business and other information, among others, in the evaluation process to ensure a high-quality potential target; |
| ● | utilize our established deal execution experiences to better understand the competing priorities among stakeholders and creatively structure transaction terms to reach a transaction agreement beneficial to all parties; |
| ● | identify under-exploited expansion opportunities overlooked by other companies where complexity or urgency mask hidden value and complete a business combination at an attractive price in terms of intrinsic value and future potential; |
| ● | implement a business plan that we believe will accelerate growth and provide the company with flexibility both financially and operationally; and |
| ● | seek further strategic opportunities in the form of acquisitions, divestitures or other transactions in order to enhance shareholder value. |
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating candidates for our initial business combination. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we consider it appropriate to do so.
| ● | Established businesses with long-term financial visibility. We will seek to acquire a target that has already generated, or has the near-term potential to generate, strong and stable cash flow, with predictable and recurring revenue streams. |
| ● | Defensible market position. We intend to seek target businesses with strong positions in an industry where they have disruptive or leading competitive technology, distinctive brand equity and/or product competencies. |
| ● | Growth opportunities through capital investment. We intend to seek candidates who may be at a point of achieving high growth and require additional expertise or capital to help drive their further expansion. |
4
| ● | Talented and incentivized management team with a proven track record. We will focus on candidates with a strong and experienced management team that has a proven track record of driving revenue growth, enhancing profitability and generating strong free cash flow. We will seek to partner with a management team that is well-incentivized and aligned in interest to create enduring shareholder value, with the ambition to take advantage of the improved liquidity and additional capital that can come from a successful U.S. public listing. We expect that the operating and financial abilities of our management and board will help potential target companies to unlock opportunities for future growth and enhanced profitability. |
| ● | Benefit from being a public company. We intend to pursue a business combination with a company that we believe will benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and public profile associated with being a public company. We expect that the access to the public capital markets could allow such a target business to accelerate its growth, thereby enhancing its ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen its balance sheet and recruit and retain key employees through the use of publicly-traded equity compensation. |
| ● | Benefit uniquely from our capabilities. We will seek to acquire a business where the collective capabilities of our management and sponsor can be leveraged to tangibly improve the operations and market position of the target. |
| ● | Attractive risk-adjusted returns. We intend to acquire a target that we believe can offer attractive risk-adjusted returns on the investments of our shareholders. |
Status as a Public Company
After this offering, we believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly traded company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering. We believe that target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive, while offering greater certainty of execution than a traditional initial public offering. During an initial public offering, there are typically expenses incurred in marketing, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is approved by our shareholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented management.
Strong Financial Position and Flexibility
After this offering, with the funds held in our trust account, we offer a target business a variety of options, such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing, and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
5
Effecting a Business Combination
We will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or abstain from voting, into their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders will agree, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of our proposed business combination or 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. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules.
We will have until 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, our public shareholders will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable laws. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the 15-month period or such period that may be extended, 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, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation 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, liquidate and dissolve. 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 liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the rights will expire and will be worthless.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within this time period, we will liquidate the trust account and distribute the proceeds held therein to our public shareholders by way of redeeming their shares and then seek to liquidate and dissolve. If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two (2) days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest net of taxes payable). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the rights will expire and will be worthless.
6
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Capital Market Listing Rules, our initial business combination must be with a target business or businesses whose collective fair market value is at least equal to 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such business combination, although this may entail simultaneous acquisitions of several target businesses. The fair market value of the target business will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Our board of directors will have broad discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of any prospective target business. The target business or businesses that we acquire may have a collective fair market value substantially in excess of 80% of the trust account balance. We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from Nasdaq.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.
We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, 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 a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 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-transaction 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 shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such target business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.
Emerging Growth Company Status and Other Information
We are an emerging growth company as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (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 of 2002 (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 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 this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means we have been a public company for at least 12 months and the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period.
7
Private Placements
In February 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our initial shareholder, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share. The 1,983,750 initial shares held by our initial shareholder include an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholder will collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (without giving effect to the sale of the private units, and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering). None of our initial shareholders has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering.
Except for the restrictions described in this prospectus, the initial shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering. Our insiders will enter into written letter agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination.
Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the initial shares (except to certain permitted transferees), respectively, until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Additionally, our insiders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until at least 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any initial shares and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the initial shares or the private units (or any ordinary shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,990,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in the trust account. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The proceeds from the private placement of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering and placed in an account in the United States at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by Wilmington Trust, National Association, our trustee. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after we consummate our first business combination.
8
Except for the restrictions described in this prospectus, the private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote the ordinary shares underlying the private units, or private shares, in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the initial shares and provided that the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the initial shares must agree to, each as described above) until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
Potential Additional Financings
We may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our initial shares, our public shareholders may incur material dilution. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. These financing transactions are typically designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be lesser, and potentially significantly lesser, than the market price for our shares at such time. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. Any such additional financing, including issuance of equity or convertible securities, may significantly dilute the interests of our public shareholders. 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 initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of 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 liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Sponsor Information
Our sponsor, Blueport Acquisition Corporation, is a Nevada corporation, which was recently formed to invest in our company. Although our sponsor is permitted to undertake any activities permitted under Nevada law and other applicable law, our sponsor’s business is focused on investing in our company. Our sponsor is managed by its two principals, William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang, and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 50% William Rosenstadt and (ii) 50% by Roy Jiang. William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang control our sponsor and have direct or indirect material interest in the sponsor.
9
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
| Entity/Individual | Amount
of Compensation to be Received or Securities Issued or to be Issued |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| Blueport Acquisition Corporation | $10,000 per month | Office space, administrative and shared personnel support services | ||
| Blueport Acquisition Corporation | 1,983,750 Class B Ordinary Shares (including up to an aggregate of 258,750 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part) | $25,000 | ||
| 299,000 (or up to 315,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) Private Placement Units to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering | $2,990,000 (or $3,150,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) | |||
| Up to $300,000 | Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses. | |||
| Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination. Such units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Services in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
Because our sponsor acquired the Class B ordinary shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the rights included in the units. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the initial shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our initial shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. See the sections titled “Risk Factors — “The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the initial shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline” and “Dilution.” Additionally, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. If our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates make any working capital loans, they may choose to convert up to $1,500,000 of such loans into up to an additional 150,000 private placement units, at the price of $10.00 per unit upon consummation of our business combination. To the extent any working capital loans are converted into units, the issuance of additional Class A ordinary shares underlying these units could result in a material dilution to the equity interests of our public shareholders. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and reduce the value of the Class A ordinary shares issued to complete the business combination.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or any other equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private units issued to the sponsor), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to our sponsor or any of its affiliates or to our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans) minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination; provided that such conversion of initial shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
10
Pursuant to a letter agreement entered with us, each of our sponsor, directors and officers will agree to restrictions on its ability to transfer, assign, or sell the initial shares and private units, as summarized in the table below.
| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural
Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
| Class B Ordinary Shares | The earlier (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. | Blueport Acquisition Corporation | Transfers permitted (a) to our or A.G.P.’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any affiliate or family member of any of our or A.G.P.’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any members or partners of the sponsor or their affiliates and funds and accounts advised by such members or partners, any affiliates of the sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement, in connection with an extension of the completion window or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or units were originally purchased; (f) pro rata distributions from our sponsor or A.G.P. to its respective members, partners or shareholders pursuant to our sponsor’s or A.G.P.’s limited liability company agreement or other charter documents; (g) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or our sponsor’s. |
11
| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural
Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
| limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our sponsor or upon dissolution of A.G.P.., (h) in the event of our liquidation prior to our consummation of our initial business combination; (i) in the event that, subsequent to our consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property or (j) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (g); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g) and clause (j) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements. | ||||||
| Units in private placement | 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination | Blueport Acquisition Corporation | Same as above |
In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or for any other reason determined by our sponsor in its sole discretion, our sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our initial shares, private units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017, and our telephone number is 212-829-8937.
12
The Offering
In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these, and the other risks set forth in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30 of this prospectus.
| Securities offered | 6,900,000 units (7,935,00 units if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one ordinary share, and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. | |
| Listing of our securities and proposed symbols | We have applied to have our units listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BPAC,” and our Class A ordinary shares and rights, once they begin separate trading, to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BPAC” and “BPACR,” respectively. | |
| Each of the Class A ordinary shares and rights may trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters determine that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the underwriters allow separate trading of the Class A ordinary shares and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering. | ||
| Once the Class A ordinary shares and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into separately trading Class A ordinary shares and rights. No fractional rights will be issued upon separation of the units. | ||
| We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet, promptly upon the consummation of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date the units commence trading. The audited balance sheet will reflect our receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of the over-allotment option if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K or a new Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in the Form 8-K, or amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if the underwriters have allowed separate trading of the Class A ordinary shares and rights prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. | ||
| Units: | ||
| Number outstanding before this offering and the private placement: | Nil. | |
| Number outstanding after this offering and the private placement: | 7,199,000 (or 8,250,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)(1) |
| (1) | Includes 299,000 private units (or up to 315,000 private units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be purchased by the sponsor. |
13
| Ordinary shares: | ||
| Number outstanding before this offering and the private placement | 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares(2) | |
| Number outstanding after this offering and the private placement | 87,199,000 Class A ordinary shares(3) 1,725,000 Class B ordinary shares | |
| Rights included as part of units: | ||
| Number outstanding before this offering and the private placement: | Nil. | |
| Number outstanding after this offering and the private placement: | 7,199,000(4) rights to acquire up to 1,199,833 Class A ordinary shares | |
| Terms of Rights: | Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a public right will automatically receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our 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-sixth (1/6th) of one share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. We 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 Islands law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of six in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we 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. |
| (2) | This number includes an aggregate of up to 258,750 ordinary shares held by our sponsor that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full. |
| (3) | Includes 6,900,000 Class A ordinary shares included in the units to be sold in this offering, Class A 299,000 ordinary shares included in the private units to be purchased by sponsor, 1,725,000 initial shares after 258,750 Class A ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders have been forfeited if no part of the over-allotment option is exercised. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, there will be a total of 8,250,000 Class A ordinary shares and 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately after the offering and the private placement. |
| (4) | Includes 299,000 rights included in the private units to be purchased by the sponsor, assuming the over-allotment option has not been exercised. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, there will be a total of 8,250,000 rights, including an aggregate of up to 315,000 rights included in the private units. |
14
| Initial Shares and Transfer Restrictions | In February 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our initial shareholder, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share. The 1,983,750 initial shares held by our initial shareholder include an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholder will collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (without giving effect to the sale of the private units, and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering).
Except for the restrictions described in this prospectus, the initial shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering.
Our insiders will agree, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, (A) to vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination., (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering, unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), (C) not to convert any initial shares (as well as any other shares acquired in or after this offering) into the right to receive cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination (or sell any shares they hold to us in a tender offer in connection with a proposed initial business combination) or a vote to amend the provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (D) that the initial shares and private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. | |
| Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the initial shares (except to certain permitted transferees), until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. | ||
| Additionally, our insiders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units or underlying the rights contained therein) until at least 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any initial shares and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the initial shares or the private units (or any ordinary shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate. |
15
| Private placement at time of offering | Our sponsor has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,990,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in the trust account. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The proceeds from the private placement of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering and placed in an account in the United States at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by Wilmington Trust, National Association, acting as trustee. | |
| The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor will agree (A) to vote the ordinary shares underlying the private units, or “private shares,” in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering, unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the initial shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the initial shares must agree to, each as described above) until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. | ||
| Offering proceeds to be held in trust | Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, $69,000,000 or $10.00 per unit ($79,350,000, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be placed into a U.S.-based trust account at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by Wilmington Trust, National Association, acting as trustee. These proceeds include $1,380,000 (or $1,587,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions. The funds in the trust account will be invested pursuant to the investment management trust agreement entered into among us and Wilmington Trust, National Association. The remaining net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units will not be held in the trust account. | |
| Except as set forth below, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released to us until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period and (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement in connection with our initial business combination. |
16
| Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be released to us from the trust account any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we need to pay our income or other tax obligations. With these exceptions, expenses incurred by us may be paid prior to a business combination only from the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account (estimated to initially be $1,251,000); provided, however, that in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering if the funds not held in the trust account are insufficient, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the working capital loans may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available. |
| Limited payments to insiders | Prior to the consummation of a business combination, there will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than: |
| ● | repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor under a promissory note dated February 28, 2025 with our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses prior to our initial public offering upon the closing of this offering; | ||
| ● | payment to our sponsor of $10,000 per month from the closing of this offering, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; | ||
| ● | repayment of working capital loans which may be made by our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination through a portion of the funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available, if the initial business combination does not close; | ||
| ● | reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations; and | ||
| ● | there may be payment by the company to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services such persons render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from funds held outside the trust account. |
| There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. |
17
| Conditions to completing our initial business combination | Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriters’ fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If we are no longer listed on Nasdaq, we will not be required to satisfy the 80% test. | |
| If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we may obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking or accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. 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. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test, provided that in the event that the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. | ||
| Potential revisions to agreements with insiders | We could seek to amend certain agreements made by our management team disclosed in this prospectus without the approval of shareholders, although we have no intention to do so. For example, restrictions on our executives relating to the voting of securities owned by them, the agreement of our management team to remain with us until the closing of a business combination, the obligation of our management team to not propose certain changes to our organizational documents or the obligation of the management team and its affiliates to not receive any compensation in connection with a business combination could be modified without obtaining shareholder approval. Although shareholders would not be given the opportunity to redeem their shares in connection with such changes, in no event would we be able to modify the redemption or liquidation rights of our shareholders without permitting our shareholders the right to redeem their shares in connection with any such change. We will not agree to any such changes unless we believed that such changes were in the best interests of our shareholders (for example, if such a modification were necessary to complete a business combination). | |
| Shareholder approval of, or tender offer in connection with, initial business combination | In connection with any proposed initial business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of such initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or abstain from voting, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders will agree, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each public shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. If enough shareholders tender their shares so that we are unable to satisfy any applicable closing condition set forth in the definitive agreement related to our initial business combination, we will not consummate such initial business combination. 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 based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If we seek shareholder approval, we will consummate our initial business combination only if a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination. |
18
| If we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their initial shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction, which would require a simple majority of votes (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option), we could need as little as 2,438,001 of our public shares (or approximately 35.36% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that all issued and outstanding shares are voted, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association vote their shares at a general meeting of the company, we will not need any public shares in addition to our initial shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or vote against the proposed transaction, or whether they do not vote or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction, or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction. | ||
| Permitted purchases of public shares and public units by our affiliates: | 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 sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public units in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public unis in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. |
19
| We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. 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. See “Proposed Business —Effecting a Business Combination — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.” for a description of how our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction. Our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will not make any purchases if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. |
| ● | Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares or units from public shareholders such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following: | ||
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares, rights or units from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; | ||
| ● | if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares or units from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; | ||
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; | ||
| ● | our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and | ||
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| ● | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price; | |||
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; | |||
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; | |||
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and | |||
| ● | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
20
| Please see “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which shareholders to seek to acquire securities. | ||
The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination, (2) reduce the number of public units outstanding and/or increase the likelihood of approval on any matters submitted to the public unitholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) 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. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. Please see “Risk Factors — If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or units, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities.” | ||
| Redemption rights | In connection with a business combination, public shareholders will have the right to convert their shares into an amount equal to (1) the number of public shares being converted by such public holder divided by the total number of public shares multiplied by (2) the amount then in the trust account (initially $10.00 per share or 100% of the gross proceeds from this offering), which includes the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions plus a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account less any amounts necessary to pay our taxes. At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may elect to convert their shares regardless of whether or not they vote to approve the business combination or abstain from voting. | |
| Whether we elect to effectuate our initial business combination via shareholder vote or tender offer, we may require public shareholders wishing to exercise redemption rights, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender the certificates they are seeking to convert to our transfer agent or to deliver the shares they are seeking to convert to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. The foregoing is different from the procedures used by traditional blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many traditional blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the shareholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise its redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such shareholder to arrange for it to deliver its certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the consummation of the business combination during which it could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the conversion price, it could sell its shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become an “option” right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the converting holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the closing of the shareholder meeting ensures that a holder’s election to convert is irrevocable once the business combination is completed. | ||
| Pursuant to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, we are required to give a minimum of only five days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to. |
21
| If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. | ||
| See “Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Our Business—In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights” and “Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Our Business—If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.” | ||
| Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under Cayman Islands law, the transfer agent will then update our register of members to reflect all conversions. | ||
| Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no business combination | We will have until 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, our public shareholders will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable laws. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the 15-month period or such period that may be extended, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. | |
| If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest). | ||
| Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as a voidable transaction in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable. |
22
| The holders of the initial shares and private units will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such securities. | ||
| We will pay the costs of liquidating the trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation and has contractually agreed not to seek repayment for such expenses. | ||
| The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to the deferred underwriting discounts held in the trust account in the event we do not consummate a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (as may be extended pursuant to our charter documents (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association)), and in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares. | ||
| Conflicts of Interest | Each of our officers and directors presently has, and in the future any of our directors and our officers may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities, pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present acquisition opportunities to such entity. Accordingly, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands laws, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an acquisition opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such acquisition opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands laws. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands laws, we renounce our interest or expectancy in any corporate opportunity offered to any officer or director and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. As a result, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. | |
| Each of our directors and officers is associated with other entities that have priority and preference relative to our company with respect to the performance of their obligations and the presentation by each such individual of business opportunities. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between our directors and officers, sponsor and its affiliates on the one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other hand. See the sections titled “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Risk Factors — Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses, thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination”, and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for more information. |
23
| Additionally, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and pursuing an initial business combination or completing our initial business combination. The different timelines of competing business combinations could cause our directors and executive officers to prioritize a different business combination over finding a suitable acquisition target for our business combination. For example, if two targets are being evaluated by our management team, and one is more stable and has a better risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but may take a longer time to diligence and go through the business combination process, while the other has a less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but would be easier, quicker and more certain to guide through the business combination process, our management team may decide to choose what they believe to be the quicker and more certain path despite its less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, as our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated a business combination. Additionally, if members of our management team form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination, the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to the business combinations of such other special purpose acquisition companies or ventures, and the level of attention paid to by members of our management team to them versus the level of attention paid to us may conflict in a way that is unfavorable to us. Consequently, our directors’ and executive officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest, which could negatively impact the timing for a business combination. | ||
| In addition to the above, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including selecting a business combination target and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors — Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.” | ||
| Additionally, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. | ||
| With certain limited exceptions, the initial shares purchased by our sponsor for an aggregate of $25,000, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such units, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor and executive officers and directors may directly or indirectly own ordinary shares following this offering, our executive officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination because of their financial interest in completing an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve. |
24
| Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. | ||
| Additionally, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. Up to $1,500,000 of working capital loans (“Working Capital Loans”) made by the sponsor, prior to or in connection with its initial business combination may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of our sponsor. | ||
| We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor (including its members), officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context. | ||
| Indemnity | Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share or 100% of the gross proceeds from this offering and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. |
25
Risk Factors Summary
We are a blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on 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, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, see “Proposed Business—Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these, and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30 of this prospectus.
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our ordinary shares. These risks are discussed more fully in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Risks associated with our business
| ● | We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. |
| ● | If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than 15 months from the closing of this offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), before receiving liquidation distributions. |
| ● | In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments. We may seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or governing instruments in a manner to make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination, which our shareholders may not support. |
| ● | The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within a specific period of time may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders. |
| ● | 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, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), or ultimately prohibited. |
| ● | You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies. |
| ● | We may issue additional ordinary or preferred shares or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership. |
| ● | We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination. |
| ● | If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00. |
| ● | Holders of rights will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period. |
26
| ● | We have no obligation to net cash settle the rights. |
| ● | Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate. |
| ● | The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Such requirement may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination. |
| ● | Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. |
| ● | Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire. |
| ● | Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and, as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous. |
| ● | Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses, thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination. |
| ● | Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
| ● | Our officers’ and directors’ personal and financial interests may influence their motivation in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination. |
| ● | Past performance by our management team and our sponsor may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us. |
| ● | Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions. |
| ● | We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. |
| ● | We may be unable to consummate a business combination if a target business requires that we have cash in excess of the minimum amount we are required to have at closing and public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our liquidation to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market. |
| ● | We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire. |
| ● | We may acquire a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates. |
27
| ● | There is currently no market for our securities, and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities. |
| ● | Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited. |
| ● | The management following a business combination may be unfamiliar with the laws and regulations applicable to a U.S. public company, which could lead to various regulatory issues. |
| ● | Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by extraordinary events and the status of debt and equity markets. |
| ● | Because we have not selected a particular business or specific geographic location 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. |
| ● | Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines. |
| ● | Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our shareholders. |
Risks associated with acquiring and operating a business outside of the United States
| ● | We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and, if we do so, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results. |
| ● | If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business. |
| ● | Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. |
| ● | If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights. |
| ● | If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. |
| ● | After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate. |
| ● | Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished. |
| ● | The other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. |
28
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data are presented.
| February 28, 2025 | ||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | Actual | As Adjusted | ||||||
| Working (deficiency) capital(1) | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | 1,266,948 | |||
| Total assets(2) | $ | 115,000 | $ | 70,266,948 | ||||
| Total liabilities(3) | $ | 99,052 | $ | 1,473,876 | ||||
| Value of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption(4) | $ | - | $ | 69,000,000 | ||||
| Shareholder’s equity (deficit)(5) | $ | 15,948 | $ | (206,928 | ) | |||
| (1) | The “as adjusted” calculation includes $1,251,000 of cash held outside the trust account, plus $15,948 of actual shareholders’ equity as of February 28, 2025. |
| (2) | The “as adjusted” calculation equals $69,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus $1,251,000 of cash held outside the trust account, plus $15,948 of shareholders’ equity as of February 28, 2025 assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised. |
| (3) | The “as adjusted” calculation includes $93,876 of the over-allotment liability and $1,380,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised. |
| (4) | The “as adjusted” amount includes all Class A ordinary shares included in the units sold in this offering, assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, net of the fair value of rights included in the units sold in this offering and the estimated offering costs. The Class A ordinary shares offered to the public contain redemption rights that make them redeemable by our public shareholders. Accordingly, they are classified within temporary equity in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 480-10-599-3A and will be subsequently accredited at redemption value. |
| (5) | Excludes 6,900,000 ordinary shares which may be redeemed in connection with our initial business combination and assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option. The actual number of shares that may be redeemed may exceed this amount. The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the value of Class A ordinary shares that may be redeemed in connection with our initial business combination (initially $10.00 per share or 100% of the gross proceeds from this offering). |
If no business combination is completed within 15 months (as such period may be extended pursuant to our charter documents (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association)) from the closing of this initial public offering, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination.
29
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the material risks described below, which we believe represent the material risks related to the offering, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below.
Risks Associated with Our Business
We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating results to date. Therefore, our ability to commence operations is dependent upon obtaining financing through the public offering of our securities. Since we do not have an operating history, you will have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We have not conducted any discussions and we have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective acquisition candidates. We will not generate any revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination.
If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than 15 months before receiving liquidation distributions.
We will have 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering to complete a business combination (as such period may be extended pursuant to our charter documents). Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to such date unless we consummate a business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to convert their shares. Only after the expiration of this full time period will public shareholders be entitled to liquidation distributions if we are unable to complete a business combination. Accordingly, investors’ funds may be unavailable to them until after such date and to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities potentially at a loss.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments. We may seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or governing instruments in a manner to make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination, which our shareholders may not support.
In order to effectuate a business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, and extended the time to consummate a business combination. Amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require at least a special resolution of our shareholders as a matter of Cayman Islands law, meaning the approval by (1) holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company, or (2) a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In addition, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require us to provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our public shares the right to have their shares redeemed or repurchased 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 15 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our public shares.
30
The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within a specific period of time may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.
We have 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (as such period may be extended pursuant to our charter documents (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association )) to complete an initial business combination. Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware of this requirement. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete a business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete a business combination with any other target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the time limits referenced 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.
Our ability to consummate an attractive business combination may be impacted by the market for initial public offerings.
If the market for initial public offerings is limited, we believe there will be more attractive target businesses open to consummating an initial business combination with us as a means to achieve publicly held status. Alternatively, if the market for initial public offerings is robust, we believe that there will be fewer attractive target businesses amenable to consummating an initial business combination with us to become a public reporting company. Accordingly, during periods with strong public offering markets, it may be more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination.
We face competition in finding an attractive target for an initial business combination. This could increase the costs associated with completing our initial business combination and may result in our inability to find a suitable target
In recent years, many companies have entered into business combinations with special purpose acquisition companies, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many additional special purpose acquisition companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, effort and resources to identify a suitable target for 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 target 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 a suitable target for and/or complete our initial business combination.
We may approve an amendment or waiver of the letter agreement that would allow our sponsor to directly, or members of our sponsor to indirectly, transfer founder shares and private placement shares or membership interests in our sponsor in a transaction in which the sponsor removes itself as our sponsor before identifying a business combination, which may deprive us of key personnel.
While there is no current intention to do so, we may approve an amendment or waiver of the letter agreement that would allow the sponsor to directly, or members of our sponsor to indirectly, transfer founder shares and private placement shares or securities in our sponsor in a transaction in which the sponsor or the current manager of our sponsor removes itself as our sponsor or the sponsor’s manager before identifying a business combination. As a result, there is a risk that our sponsor and our officers and directors may divest their ownership or economic interests in us or in our sponsor, which would likely result in a change in our management and board of directors. There can be no assurance that any replacement sponsor or management will be able to successfully identify a business combination target for us, or, even if one is so identified, successfully complete such business combination.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
31
After our initial business combination, it is possible that a majority of our directors and officers will live outside the United States and all of our assets will be located outside the United States; therefore, investors may not be able to enforce federal securities laws or their other legal rights.
It is possible that after our initial business combination, a majority of our directors and officers will reside outside of the United States and all of our assets will be located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult, or in some cases not possible, for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon all of our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties on our directors and officers under United States laws.
Dependence on Artificial Intelligence
If we pursue a business combination with a company that relies on, or is heavily involved in the development or application of, artificial intelligence (“AI”) we may face risks in and challenges to data integrity and security, regulatory risks, technical and operational risks. The AI landscape is highly competitive, and technological advancements can rapidly alter the competitive environment. New entrants or competitors may develop superior AI systems, making it difficult for a target business to maintain a competitive advantage.
Potential Escalation of Tariffs
Given the potential for the further escalation of tariffs under policies enacted during the Trump administration and related potential risks and uncertainties related to trade policy changes, we may face potential risks and uncertainties related to target businesses and long-term prospects of a business combination. Such tariffs, or the threat thereof, may deter potential target companies from pursuing an initial business combination with us.
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, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) or ultimately prohibited.
Our initial business combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirements by governmental entities or ultimately prohibited. For example, CFIUS has authority to review direct or indirect foreign investments in U.S. companies. Among other things, CFIUS is empowered to require certain foreign investors to make mandatory filings, to charge filing fees related to such filings, and to self-initiate national security reviews of foreign direct and indirect investments in U.S. companies if the parties to that investment choose not to file voluntarily. In the case that CFIUS determines an investment to be a threat to national security, CFIUS has the power to unwind or place restrictions on the investment. Whether CFIUS has jurisdiction to review an acquisition or investment transaction depends on — among other factors — the nature and structure of the transaction, including the level of beneficial ownership interest and the nature of any information or governance rights involved. While our sponsor is a limited liability company formed in Delaware and is not controlled by, nor does it have substantial ties with, a non-U.S. person, investments that result in “control” of a U.S. business by a foreign person are always subject to CFIUS jurisdiction. CFIUS’s expanded jurisdiction under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 and implementing regulations that became effective on February 13, 2020 further includes investments that do not result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person but afford certain foreign investors certain information or governance rights in a U.S. business that has a nexus to “critical technologies,” “critical infrastructure” and/or “sensitive personal data.”
If a particular proposed initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit to CFIUS review on a voluntary basis, or to proceed with the transaction without submitting to CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the transaction. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our proposed initial business combination, impose conditions with respect to such initial business combination or request the President of the United States to order us to divest all or a portion of the U.S. target business of our initial business combination that we acquired without first obtaining CFIUS approval, which may limit the attractiveness of, delay or prevent us from pursuing certain target companies 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 any foreign ownership issues. In addition, certain federally licensed businesses may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership.
The process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period required under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, including as a result of extended regulatory review of a potential initial business combination, 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 (and subject to lawfully available funds therefor), 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of taxes payable), 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, liquidate and dissolve, 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 event, our shareholders will miss the opportunity to benefit from an investment in a target company and the appreciation in value of such investment. Additionally, our rights may be worthless.
32
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets or such attractive targets may not be interested to consummate a business combination with a SPAC due to a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our 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 preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available 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 target companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns (including a negative public perception of mergers involving special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)), 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.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete a business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, since we expect to have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, or we will be otherwise exempt from the provisions of Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors of blank check companies such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules which would, for example, completely restrict the transferability of our securities, restrict the use of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and require us to complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of the offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association). Because we are not subject to Rule 419, our units will be immediately tradable, we will be entitled to withdraw amounts from the funds held in the trust account prior to the completion of a business combination and we may have more time to complete an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of this offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, see “Proposed Business—Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
We may issue additional ordinary or preferred shares or debt securities to complete a business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will authorize the issuance of 450,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of par value $0.0001 each and 50,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of par value $0.0001 each.
Although we have no commitment as of the date of this offering, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares or debt securities, or a combination thereof, to complete a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:
| ● | may significantly reduce the equity interest of investors in this offering; |
| ● | may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares; |
| ● | may cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; |
| ● | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
33
| ● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our ordinary shares. Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in: |
| ● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
| ● | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| ● | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; |
| ● | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; |
| ● | our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares; |
| ● | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
| ● | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; |
| ● | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes; and |
| ● | other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
We may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our initial business combination for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-business combination company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, or to fund the purchase of other companies. Such additional financing may be in the form of PIPE transactions, which may be in the form of equity, debt or convertible debt transactions. These financing transactions are designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. We cannot assure you that financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Since we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or the obligation to convert into cash (or purchase in any tender offer) a significant number of shares from dissenting shareholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional 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 a business combination.
We will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or abstain from voting, into their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Accordingly, such redemptions or conversions could also leave us with insufficient funds to consummate an initial business combination.
34
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00.
Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective target businesses we negotiate with 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, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they may seek recourse against the monies held in the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of our public shareholders. If we liquidate the trust account before the completion of a business combination, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us and which have not executed a waiver agreement. However, it may not be able to meet such obligation. Therefore, the per-share redemption price from the trust account in such a situation may be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to such claims.
Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, or if we otherwise enter compulsory or court supervised liquidation, 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, we may not be able to return to our public shareholders at least $10.00 per share.
Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.
If we are forced to enter into 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 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 offense and may be liable to a fine and to imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.
If we deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines set forth in this prospectus, investors in this offering may have rescission rights or may bring an action for damages against us or we could be subject to civil or criminal actions taken by governmental authorities.
If we were to elect to deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines set forth in this prospectus, each person who purchased units in this offering and still held such securities upon learning of the facts relating to the deviation may seek rescission of the purchase of the units he or she acquired in the offering (under which a successful claimant has the right to receive the total amount paid for his or her securities pursuant to an allegedly deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any income earned on the securities, in exchange for surrender of the securities) or bring an action for damages against us (compensation for loss on an investment caused by alleged material misrepresentations or omissions in the sale of a security). In such event, we could also be subject to civil or criminal actions taken by governmental authorities. For instance, the SEC can seek injunctions under Section 20(b) of the Securities Act if it believes a violation under the Securities Act has occurred or is imminent. The SEC can also seek civil penalties under Sections 20(d) and 24 if a party has violated the Securities Act or an injunctive action taken by the SEC or if a party willfully, in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, makes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Furthermore, Section 20 allows the SEC to refer matters to the attorney general to bring criminal penalties against an issuer.
Holders of rights will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the funds held in the trust account, the rights will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the rights.
We have no obligation to net cash settle the rights.
In no event will we have any obligation to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
35
If a public holder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our ordinary shares in connection with our initial business combination or fails to 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 initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a public holder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such public holder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our ordinary 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 ordinary shares. For example, we may require our public holders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a public holder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed.
We may amend the terms of the rights in a way that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding rights.
Our rights will be issued in registered form under a rights agreement between VStock Transfer, 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. The rights agreement requires the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding rights in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.
Our rights agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our rights, which could limit the ability of rights holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our rights agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (1) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the rights agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (2) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the rights agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our rights agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the rights agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our rights, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (1) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (2) having service of process made upon such rights holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such rights holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such rights holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a rights holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, including by increasing the cost of such lawsuits to a rights holder, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our rights agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
36
The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Such requirement may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us for our taxes) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete a business combination. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.
If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our key personnel, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain with us for the immediate or foreseeable future. In addition, none of our officers are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, they will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have employment agreements with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our officers. The unexpected loss of the services of our key personnel could have a detrimental effect on us.
The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following a business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place or be hired after consummation of the business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a 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 public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business in any geographic location or industry we choose. We cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have enough experience or have sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding a business combination. If we become aware of a potential business combination outside of the geographic location or industry where our officers and directors have the most experience, our management may retain consultants and advisors with experience in such industries to assist in the evaluation of such business combination and in our determination of whether or not to proceed with such a business combination. However, our management is not required to engage consultants or advisors in any situation. If they do not engage any consultants or advisors to assist them in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, our management may not properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. Even if our management does engage consultants or advisors to assist in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, we cannot assure you that such consultants or advisors will properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. As a result, we may enter into a business combination that is not in our shareholders’ best interests.
37
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel will be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements or other arrangements 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 the company after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses, thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to commit their full time to our affairs, which could create a conflict of interest when allocating their time between our operations and their other commitments. We presently expect each of our employees to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. All of our officers and directors are engaged in several other business endeavors and are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our affairs. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote more substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination. We cannot assure you these conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations to other companies, including other companies that are engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, they may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial business combination.
As a result, a potential target business may be presented by our management team to another entity prior to its presentation to us and we may not be afforded the opportunity to engage in a transaction with such target business. For a more detailed description of the pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations of our management team, and the potential conflicts of interest that such obligations may present, see “Management—Conflicts of Interest” and “Summary- Conflicts of Interest”.
Our officers’ and directors’ personal and financial interests may influence their motivation in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.
Our insiders have waived their right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer), to the extent applicable, their initial shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although none of these insiders have indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Our sponsor has also waived its right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer) its private shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although it has not indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their private shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, these securities will be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in the best interest of our shareholders. If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Cayman Islands law and we might have a claim against such individuals. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
38
Past performance by our management team and our sponsor 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 sponsor and its affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team and our sponsor is not a guarantee either (1) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (2) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or our sponsor’s respective performance as indicative of 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 sponsor or its affiliates.
Our letter agreement with our sponsor, officers and directors may be amended without shareholder approval.
Our letter agreement with our sponsor, officers and directors contain provisions relating to transfer restrictions of our initial shares and private placement units, indemnification of the trust account, waiver of redemption rights and participation in liquidating distributions from the trust account. The letter agreement may be amended without shareholder approval. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to the letter agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to the letter agreement. Any such amendments to the letter agreement would not require approval from our shareholders and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or for any other reason determined by our sponsor in its sole discretion, our sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our initial shares, private placement units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities. Through such transfer, or otherwise, our sponsor may remove itself as the sponsor of our company before identifying a potential business combination, which may result in our inability to consummate a business combination.
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We anticipate that our securities will be listed on Nasdaq, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of Nasdaq, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to an initial business combination. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, it is likely that Nasdaq will require us to file a new initial listing application and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient continued listing requirements. 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, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| ● | reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; |
| ● | a determination that our ordinary shares are “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our ordinary shares; |
| ● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and |
| ● | lack of ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
39
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business with a limited number of products or services.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering. By consummating a 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 that may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
| ● | solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, or |
| ● | dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
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 on the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination.
Alternatively, if we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need 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 the 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.
Our public shareholders’ ability to exercise their redemption rights or sell their public shares to us in a tender offer may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
If our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public shareholders may exercise redemption rights or seek to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such conversion, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business transaction. In the event that the business combination involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
We may be unable to consummate a business combination if a target business requires that we have cash in excess of the minimum amount we are required to have at closing and public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our liquidation to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market
A potential target may make it a closing condition to our business combination that we have a minimum amount of cash at the time of closing. If the number of our shareholders electing to exercise their redemption rights or sell their shares to us in a tender offer has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate a business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait the full 15 months (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), in order to be able to receive a pro rata portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than a pro rata share of the trust account for their shares and suffer an entire loss on your investment.
Our public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.
We intend to hold a shareholder vote before we consummate our initial business combination. However, if a shareholder vote is not required, for business or legal reasons, we may conduct conversions via a tender offer and not offer our shareholders the opportunity to vote on a proposed business combination. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the business combination.
40
In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of a proposed business combination and still seek conversion of his, her or its public shares, which may make it more likely that we will consummate a business combination.
In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the right to have his, her or its public shares converted to cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) regardless of whether such shareholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. Accordingly, public shareholders owning shares sold in this offering may exercise their redemption rights and we could still consummate a proposed business combination so long as a majority of shares voted at the meeting are voted in favor of the proposed business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where shareholders are offered the right to convert their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This is also different than other similarly structured blank check companies where there is a specific number of shares sold in the offering which must not exercise redemption rights for the company to complete a business combination. The lack of such a threshold and the ability to seek conversion while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public shareholder will have the right, regardless of whether it is voting for or against such proposed business combination, to demand that we convert its public shares into a share of the trust account. Such conversion will be effectuated under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as a redemption of the shares, with the redemption price to be paid being the applicable pro rata portion of the monies held in the trust account. We may require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote taken at the shareholder meeting relating to such business combination. In order to obtain a physical share certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical share certificate. It is also our understanding that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System. However, this too may not be the case. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders who wish to convert may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to convert their shares.
Investors may not have sufficient time to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion.
Pursuant to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we will be required to give a minimum of only five days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.
If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to convert their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our shares may decline during this time, and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, while other shareholders who did not seek conversion would be able to sell their securities during this time.
41
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public units from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public units.
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 sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares or units 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 or duty to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment 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 sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares, rights or units in such transactions.
The purpose of any such transactions could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination, (2) reduce the number of public units outstanding and/or increase the likelihood of approval on any matters submitted to the public shareholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) 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. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. 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. Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or units from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares or units from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| ● | if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or units from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| ● | our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
42
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| ● | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; |
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; and |
| ● | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
Please see “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which shareholders to seek to acquire securities.
Other companies may have a competitive advantage, and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do, and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking shareholder approval of a business combination may delay or prevent the consummation of a transaction, a risk a target business may not be willing to accept. Additionally, our outstanding rights, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.
Our sponsor will control the appointment of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, it will appoint all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon consummation of our offering and the private placement, the sponsor will own approximately 22.7% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming the sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering and no over-allotment option is exercised). Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our memorandum and articles of association.
In addition, the initial shares, all of which are held by our sponsor, will entitle the holders to vote to appoint all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors during such time. Further, prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on continuing our company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of our approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands). These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended if approved by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least 90% (or, where such amendment is proposed in respect of the consummation of our initial business combination, two-thirds) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company. As a result, you will not have any influence over the appointment or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination or any influence over our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination.
43
If our sponsor purchases any units in this offering or if our sponsor purchases any additional Class A ordinary shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase its control. Neither our sponsor nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were appointed by our sponsor, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term for three years with only one class of directors being appointed in each year. We may not hold an annual or extraordinary general meeting to appoint new directors prior to the completion of our initial 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 general meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for appointment and our sponsor, because of its ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. In addition, since only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on directors prior to our initial business combination, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination. Accordingly, our sponsor will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to elect directors. Accordingly, shareholders would not have the right to such a meeting or election of directors, unless the holders of not less than 10% of the voting rights of our company request such a meeting. As a result, it is unlikely that there will be an annual general meeting to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the consummation of the business combination. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your voting rights for 15 months. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of a business combination.
The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the initial shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline.
We are offering our units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, and the amount in our trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share, implying an initial value of $10.00 per public share. However, prior to this offering, our sponsor paid a nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the initial shares, or approximately $0.013 per share. As a result, the value of your public shares may be significantly diluted upon the consummation of our initial business combination, when the initial shares are converted into public shares. The following table shows the public shareholders’ and our sponsor’s investment per share and how these compare to the implied value of one Class A ordinary share upon the completion of our initial business combination. The following table assumes that (i) our valuation is $67,620,000 (which is the amount we would have in the trust account for our initial business combination assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and following payment of the underwriters’ deferred fee), (ii) no interest is earned on the funds held in the trust account, (iii) no public shares are redeemed in connection with our initial business combination and (iv) all initial shares are held by our initial shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination, and does not take into account other potential impacts on our valuation at the time of the initial business combination, such as (i) the value of our public and private units, (ii) the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares, (iii) the initial business combination transaction costs (other than the payment of $1,380,000 of deferred underwriting commissions), (iv) any equity issued or cash paid to the target’s sellers, (v) any equity issued to other third party investors, or (vi) the target’s business itself.
| Class A ordinary shares in public offering | 6,900,000 | |||
| Class A ordinary shares in private units | 299,000 | |||
| Class B ordinary shares | 1,725,000 | |||
| Total shares | 8,924,000 | |||
| Total funds in trust available for initial business combination | $ | 69,000,000 | ||
| Public shareholders’ and sponsor’s investment per Class A ordinary share(1) (2) | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Sponsor’s investment per Class B ordinary share(2) | $ | 0.01 | ||
| Initial implied value per public share | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Implied value per public share upon consummation of initial business combination(3) | $ | 7.58 |
| (1) | While the public shareholders’ investment is in both the shares and the rights, for purposes of this table the full investment amount is ascribed to the shares only. |
| (2) | The total investment in the equity of the Company by the sponsor is $3,015,000, consisting of (i) $25,000 paid by the sponsor for the Class B ordinary shares, (ii) $2,990,000 paid by the sponsor for 299,000 private units for the Class A ordinary shares. For purposes of this table, the full investment amount is ascribed to the Class B ordinary shares only. |
| (3) | All class B ordinary shares would automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares upon completion of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder. |
44
Based on these assumptions, each Class A ordinary share would have an implied value of $7.58 per share upon completion of our initial business combination, representing an approximately 24.2% decrease from the initial implied value of $10.00 per public share. While the implied value of $7.58 per Class A ordinary share upon completion of our initial business combination would represent a dilution to our public shareholders, this would represent a significant increase in value for our sponsor relative to the price it paid for each class B ordinary share. At $7.58 per Class A ordinary share, the 2,024,000 Class A ordinary shares that the sponsor would own upon completion of our initial business combination (after automatic conversion of the 1,725,000 Class B ordinary shares) would have an aggregate implied value of $15,336,495. As a result, even if the trading price of our Class A ordinary share significantly declines, the value of the class B ordinary shares held by our sponsor will be significantly greater than the amount our sponsor paid to purchase such shares. In addition, our sponsor could potentially recoup its entire investment in our company even if the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares after the initial business combination is as low as $1.49 per share. As a result, our sponsor is likely to earn a substantial profit on its investment in us upon disposition of its Class A ordinary shares even if the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares declines after we complete our initial business combination. Our sponsor may therefore be economically incentivized to complete an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker-performing or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the Class B ordinary shares as our public shareholders paid for their public shares.
This dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the initial shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the initial shares at the time of our initial business combination and would become exacerbated to the extent that public shareholders seek redemptions from the trust for their public shares. In addition, because of the anti-dilution protection in the initial shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A ordinary shares.
Our outstanding rights or the conversion of the promissory notes upon consummation of our business combination into private units may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, we will be issuing rights included in the units offered by this prospectus that will result in the issuance of up to 1,150,000 ordinary shares upon consummation of our business combination, as well as rights included in the private units to be purchased by the sponsor that will result in the issuance of an additional 49,833 ordinary shares upon consummation of our business combination. Further, in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering until completion of an initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon conversion of the rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when 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, our rights 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 the rights could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If to the extent these rights are converted, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
If our shareholders exercise their registration rights with respect to their securities, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Our initial shareholders are entitled to make a demand that we register the resale of their initial shares (1,983,750 ordinary shares, including up to an aggregate of 258,750 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part) at any time commencing three months prior to the end of the Lock-Up period. Additionally, our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates are entitled to demand that we register the resale of the 299,000 ordinary shares (or 315,000 ordinary shares if the over-allotment is exercised in full) included in the private units, 49,833 ordinary shares (or 52,500 ordinary shares if the over-allotment is exercised in full) underlying the rights included in the private units, and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans at any time after we consummate a business combination. The presence of these additional securities trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business, as the shareholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering into a business combination with us or will request a higher price for their securities because of the potential effect the exercise of such rights may have on the trading market for our ordinary shares.
45
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of 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 and numerous complex tax laws. 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, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted a series of new rules relating to SPACs (the “SPAC Rules”) requiring, among other items, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC business combination transactions; (ii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and de-SPAC transactions; (iii) the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; and (iv) both the SPAC and the target company’s status as co-registrants on de-SPAC registration statements.
In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals.
Compliance with the SPAC Rules and related guidance may increase the costs of and the time needed to negotiate and complete an initial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
As described in the risk factor above entitled “Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.”, the SEC ’s adopting release with respect to the SPAC Rules provided guidance describing the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. Whether a SPAC is an investment company will be a question of facts and circumstances. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company. We can give no assurance that a claim will not be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may have to change our operations, wind down our operations, or register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Our activities may be restricted, including:
| ● | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and |
| ● | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
| ● | registration as an investment company; |
| ● | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| ● | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
46
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 in 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. We are mindful of the SEC’s investment company definition and guidance and intend to identify and complete an initial business combination with an operating business, and not with an investment company, or to acquire minority interests in other businesses exceeding the permitted threshold.
We do not believe that our anticipated activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account will initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations 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; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at any time, (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act) instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank.
Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in securities or assets other than as described above. 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. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended solely as a temporary depository for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) in a manner that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window; or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, from the closing of this offering, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares.
We are aware of litigation claiming that certain SPACs should be considered to be investment companies. Although we believe that these claims were without merit, we cannot guarantee that we will not be deemed to be an investment company and thus 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 an initial business combination or may result in our winding down our operations and our liquidation. 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 public shareholders would also lose the possibility of an investment opportunity in a target company as well as any potential price appreciation in the combined company following a business combination.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of investments in the trust account, we will likely receive less interest on the funds held in the trust account than we would have had the trust account remained as initially invested, such that our public shareholders would receive less upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company than what they would have received had the investments not been liquidated.
The funds to be held in the trust account will, following this offering, be initially held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less, in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and in cash or cash like items (including demand deposit accounts) at a bank. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct Wilmington Trust, National Association, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation. Following such liquidation, we will likely receive less interest on the funds held in the trust account than we would earn if the trust account remained invested in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the trust account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing demand deposit at a bank could reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company as compared to what they would have received had the investments not been so liquidated.
47
Notwithstanding the measures set forth above, we may still be deemed to be an investment company. The longer that the funds in the trust account are held in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, the greater the risk that we may be deemed to be an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company. As disclosed above, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account at any time and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest bearing demand deposit account or as cash or cash items at a bank, which could further reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company as compared to what they would have received had the investments not been so liquidated. Were we to liquidate the Company, our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the target company with which we could have consummated an initial business combination. In addition, upon moving the funds from the trust account to a deposit account, we will maintain the cash items in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits as guaranteed by the FDIC. While we intend to place our deposits in high-quality banks, only a small portion of the funds in our trust account will be guaranteed by the FDIC.
We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, whose collective experience in business evaluations for blank check companies like ours is not significant. Furthermore, our directors may have a conflict of interest in analyzing the transaction due to their personal and financial interests.
We may acquire a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.
While we do not currently intend to pursue an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates, we are not prohibited from pursuing such a transaction, nor are we prohibited from consummating a business combination where any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire a minority interest in the target business alongside our acquisition, provided in each case we obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view. These affiliations could cause our officers or directors to have a conflict of interest in analyzing such transactions due to their personal and financial interests.
The determination of the offering price of our units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry.
Prior to this offering, 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 representative of the underwriters. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units, including the ordinary shares and rights underlying the units, include:
| ● | the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; |
| ● | prior offerings of those companies; |
| ● | our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values; |
| ● | our capital structure; |
| ● | the per share amount of net proceeds being placed in the trust account; |
| ● | an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; and |
| ● | general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering. |
However, although these factors will be considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results to compare them to.
48
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and 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 this offering, 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.
Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. A judgment of a United States court for civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States may not be enforceable in or recognized by the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside, and the judicial recognition process may be time-consuming. It may be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our post-offering 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 Companies Act and 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, and whilst the decisions of the English courts are of persuasive authority, they 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 different from statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, while provisions do exist in Cayman Islands law for derivative actions to be brought in certain circumstances, shareholders in the Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a Cayman Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would:
| ● | recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and |
| ● | entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce a foreign judgment, without any re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided that such judgment (1) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; (2) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; (3) is final; (4) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; (5) was not obtained by fraud; and (6) is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands.
49
Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
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 United States company.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the courts of the Cayman Islands will be the exclusive forums for certain disputes between us and our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for complaints against us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in us, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer or other employee to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes.
The forum selection provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association does not apply to actions or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States of America, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that we may have, each of our shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly we shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum.
This choice of forum provision may increase a shareholder’s cost and limit the shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any of our shares or other securities, whether by transfer, sale, operation of law or otherwise, shall be deemed to have notice of and have irrevocably agreed and consented to these provisions. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. It is possible that a court could find this type of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find this provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could have adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excise tax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our ordinary shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 became law in the United States, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded domestic corporations, including United States corporations and certain non-U.S. corporations treated as “surrogate foreign corporations”. The excise tax will apply to stock repurchases occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The amount of the excise tax payable is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares of stock repurchased at the time of the repurchase, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. On April 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) issued proposed regulations relating to payment of excise tax, which may generally be relied upon by taxpayers until the regulations are finalized.
50
As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the 1% 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, in connection with an initial business combination involving a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a U.S. corporation, in which case it is possible that we will be subject to the excise tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions, including redemptions in connection with the initial business combination, that are treated as repurchases for this purpose (other than, pursuant to the proposed regulations from the U.S. 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 stock redeemed, the structure of the initial business combination, the extent to which such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not repurchases, and the content of any final regulations and other additional guidance from the U.S. 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 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 as a result of redemptions in connection with the initial business combination could, however, reduce the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or reduce the cash contribution to the target business in connection with an initial business combination, which could cause the other shareholders of the combined company to economically bear the impact of such excise tax.
Because we must furnish our shareholders with financial statements of the target business prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS as issued by the IASB or reconciled to U.S. GAAP, we may not be able to complete an initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
We will be required to provide historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure relating to our target business to our shareholders. 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 (“U.S. GAAP”) or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“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) (the “PCAOB”). The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days after closing. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire.
Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will require substantial financial and management resources and may 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 and may require us to have such system audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or shareholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm our business. A target business may also not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of 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. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our securities.
We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our securities less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if within a three-year period, we issue non-convertible debt exceeding $1.0 billion or generate revenues exceeding $1.235 billion, or if we have been a public company for at least 12 months and the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
51
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. 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, will not adopt the new or revised standard until the time private companies are required to adopt the new or revised standard. This may make a comparison of our financial statements with another public company (which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company opting out of using the extended transition period) difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares less attractive due to the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to us, there may be a less active trading market for our shares, and our share price may become more volatile.
An investment in this offering may involve adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering 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 this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the Class A ordinary share and the right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share included in each unit could be challenged by the IRS or courts. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividend income” 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 own tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences applicable to their specific circumstances when acquiring, owning or disposing of our securities.
We may be a passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC,” which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to 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 this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders”) of our Class A ordinary shares or rights, 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 the status of an acquired company pursuant to a business combination and whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus 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. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. In addition, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status for any 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, in order 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, and such election would likely be unavailable with respect to our rights in all cases. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to holders of our ordinary shares and rights. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to any requisite shareholder approval, we may structure our business combination in a manner that requires shareholders and/or rights holders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes, effect a business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction, or reincorporate in a different jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders or rights holders to pay taxes in connection with our business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder or a rights holder may need to satisfy any liability resulting from our initial business combination with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of the shares or rights received. In addition, shareholders and rights holders may be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of the combined company after our initial business combination.
52
In addition, we may effect a business combination with a target company that has business operations in multiple jurisdictions. If we effect such a business combination, we could be subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in a number of jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Due to the complexity of tax obligations and filings in other jurisdictions, we may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by various taxing authorities. This additional complexity and risk could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition.
If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of the United States (or any subdivision thereof), it is possible a U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with any redemptions of our ordinary shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”), subject to certain exceptions. If applicable, the amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the aggregate fair market value of any stock repurchased by the corporation during a taxable year, net of the aggregate fair market value of certain new stock issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year. The Biden administration proposed increasing the Excise Tax rate from 1% to 4%; however, it is unclear whether such a change will be enacted and, if enacted, how soon it could take effect.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, the Excise Tax is currently not expected to apply to redemptions of our ordinary shares (absent any regulations or other additional guidance that may be issued in the future).
However, in connection with an initial business combination involving a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a corporation organized under the laws of a state of the United States prior to certain redemptions. Because we expect that, following such a domestication, our securities would continue to trade on a national securities exchange, in such a case, we could be subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions (including redemptions in connection with an extension vote or the initial business combination). Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, extension vote or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of final regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. On June 28, 2024, the Treasury finalized certain of the proposed regulations (those relating to procedures for reporting and paying the Excise Tax). The remaining regulations (largely relating to the computation of the Excise Tax) remain in proposed form. The Treasury intends to finalize these proposed regulations at a later date and, until such time, taxpayers may continue to rely on the proposed regulations.
Any Excise Tax that becomes payable as a result of any redemptions of our ordinary shares (or other shares into which such ordinary shares may be converted) would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder. To the extent such taxes are applicable, the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or to transfer to the target business in connection with our initial business combination may be reduced, which could result in our inability to meet conditions in the agreement relating to our initial business combination related to a minimum cash requirement, if any, or otherwise result in the shareholders of the combined company (including any of our shareholders who do not exercise their redemption rights in connection with the initial business combination) to economically bear the impact of such Excise Tax. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Finally, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our complete liquidation.
The management following a business combination may be unfamiliar with the laws and regulations applicable to a U.S. public company, which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following a business combination, our management will likely resign from their positions as officers of the company, and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. We cannot assure you that the management of the target business will be familiar with the laws and regulations applicable to a U.S. public company. If the management following a business combination is unfamiliar with these laws and regulations, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws and regulations. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues, which may adversely affect the operations of the combined company.
If restrictions on repatriation of earnings from the target business’ home jurisdiction to foreign entities are instituted, our business following a business combination may be materially negatively affected.
It is possible that following an initial business combination, the home jurisdiction of the target business may have restrictions on repatriations of earnings or additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. If they were, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
53
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by extraordinary events and the status of debt and equity markets.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by extraordinary events and the status of debt and equity markets. For example, the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus over the past years resulted in a widespread health crisis, which has materially and adversely affected the economies and financial markets worldwide. Going forward, the continued concerns relating to COVID-19 or the occurrence of other extraordinary events, such as natural disasters and unusual weather conditions, power outages, pandemic outbreaks, terrorist acts, and global political events, may restrict travel, limit our ability to have meetings with potential investors, delay the negotiation among relevant parties, or lead to a prolonged economic downturn. If the disruptions posed by these extraordinary events or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected. Furthermore, our ability to consummate a business combination may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing, which, in turn, may be impacted by the occurrence of any extraordinary events.
We are currently experiencing a period of economic uncertainty and capital markets disruption, which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability. Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from any geopolitical tensions.
U.S. and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the recent escalation of geopolitical tensions, such as the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops occurred. Although the length and impact of the ongoing military conflict are highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions. We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine and globally and assessing its potential impact on our business. Additionally, Russia’s prior annexation of Crimea, recent recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military interventions in Ukraine have led to sanctions and other penalties being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia, Belarus, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, including agreement to remove certain Russian financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) payment system, expansive ban on imports and exports of products to and from Russia and ban on exportation of U.S. denominated banknotes to Russia or persons located there. Additional potential sanctions and penalties have also been proposed and/or threatened. Russian military actions and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds. Any of the above-mentioned factors could affect our ability to search for a target and consummate a business combination. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict but could be substantial. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this prospectus.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
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. Because our board of directors may consummate our initial business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination. 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 business combination.
The ability of our public shareholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into our initial business combination with a target.
We may enter into a 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 may not be able to meet such closing condition, and as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause fail to satisfy a closing condition 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 would be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into our initial business combination transaction with us.
54
The ability of a large number of our shareholders to exercise redemption rights may not allow us to consummate the 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 a large number of shares are submitted for redemption, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account to redeem such larger number of shares or arrange for additional third-party financing. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its shareholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring 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.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, all of our existing shareholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
We expect that our initial shareholders holding initial shares and their respective permitted transferees collectively will own at least 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares immediately following the completion of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial shareholders, officers and directors to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite shareholder approval for such initial business combination. Pursuant to the letter agreement, our initial shareholders, officers and directors will agree to vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction, which would require a simple majority of votes (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option), we could need as little as 2,438,001 of our public shares (or approximately 35.4% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that all issued and outstanding shares are voted, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association vote their shares at a general meeting of the company, we will not need any public shares in addition to our initial shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of the initial 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 any target businesses. Since our board of directors may complete an initial business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the initial 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.
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares, potentially at a loss, to liquidate your investment
Our public shareholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of a redemption to public shareholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or if we seek to amend our memorandum and articles of association to affect the substance or timing of our redemption obligation to redeem all public shares if we cannot complete an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Holders of rights will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the rights. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares, potentially at a loss.
55
We may be limited to the funds held outside of the trust account to fund our search for target businesses, to pay our tax obligations and expenses, and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering, $1,251,000 is anticipated to be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements and cover expenses. Especially if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, we may not have sufficient funds available with which to structure, negotiate or close our initial business combination or pay our expenses. In such event, we would need to borrow funds from our insiders to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Our insiders are under no obligation to loan us any funds. If we are unable to obtain the funds necessary, we may be forced to cease searching for a target business and may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
If the net proceeds of this offering not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 15 months, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 15 months, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association). 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 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 are unable to fund such down payments or “no shop” provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent 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 only receive a pro rata portion of the amount then in the trust account (which may be less than $10.00 per share) (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on our redemption.
Subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges.
Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not reveal all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or ensure 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.
Our directors may decide not to enforce indemnification obligations against our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of 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 $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine on our behalf whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors, in exercising their business judgment, may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
56
Because we have not selected a particular business or specific geographic location 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.
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business industry or sector, we intend to initially focus on those industries or sectors that complement our management team’s background. Except for the limitations that a target business has a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding deferred underwriters fees and any taxes payable) and that we are not permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business with respect to our initial 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 consummate our initial 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 sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or development-stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors, or we will 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. In addition, investors will be relying on the business judgment of our board of directors, which will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of a particular target business. An investment in our shares may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment if such opportunity were available in an acquisition target.
We may seek investment opportunities outside our management’s area of expertise and our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all significant risks associated with the target company.
There is no limitation on the industry or business sector that we may consider when contemplating our initial business combination. We may, therefore, be presented with a business combination candidate in an industry unfamiliar to our management team but determine that such candidate offers an attractive investment opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an investment outside of our management’s expertise, our management’s experience may not be directly applicable to the target business or their evaluation of its operations.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified specific 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 consummate our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these 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 our initial 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 Nasdaq, 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 only receive $10.00 per share or even less (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on our redemption, and our rights will expire worthless.
Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may cause management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our shareholders.
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding deferred underwriters fees and any taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Investors will be relying on management’s ability to identify business combinations, evaluate their merits, conduct or monitor diligence and conduct negotiations. Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may cause management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our shareholders, which would be the case if the trading price of our ordinary shares after giving effect to such business combination was less than the per-share trust liquidation value that our shareholders would have received if we had dissolved without consummating our initial business combination.
57
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated.
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 consummate our initial business combination for multiple reasons, some of which are 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 only receive $10.00 per share or even less (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on share redemption, and the rights will expire worthless.
We may attempt to consummate our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. By definition, very little public information 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 our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
We may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure our initial business combination to acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only consummate such business combination if we will become the majority shareholder of the target (or control the target through contractual arrangements in limited circumstances for regulatory compliance purposes) or are otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or to the extent permitted by law we may acquire interests in a variable interest entity, in which we may have less than a majority of the voting rights in such entity, but in which we are the primary beneficiary. Even though we may own a majority interest in 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 shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding 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 stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States
We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and, if we do so, we would be subject to a variety of 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 and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
| ● | tariffs and trade barriers; |
| ● | laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
| ● | regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
58
| ● | longer payment cycles than in the United States; |
| ● | inflation; |
| ● | economic policies and market conditions; |
| ● | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
| ● | challenges in managing and staffing international operations; |
| ● | tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
| ● | currency fluctuations; |
| ● | challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
| ● | cultural and language differences; |
| ● | exchange listing and/or delisting requirements; |
| ● | protection of intellectual property; |
| ● | social unrest, crime, strikes, riots and civil disturbances |
| ● | terrorist attacks, natural disasters, widespread health emergencies and wars; |
| ● | employment regulations; and |
| ● | deterioration of political relations with the United States. |
We cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations would suffer.
Because of 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.
If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.
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.
For example, the Cayman Islands, together with several other non-European Union jurisdictions, have recently introduced legislation aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Council of the European Union as to offshore structures engaged in certain activities which attract profits without real economic activity. With effect from January 1, 2019, the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (2021 Revision), or the ITC, came into force in the Cayman Islands introducing certain economic substance requirements for Cayman Islands tax resident companies which are engaged in certain “relevant activities.” However, it is not anticipated that the company itself will be subject to any such requirements prior to any business combination and thereafter the company may still remain out of scope of the legislation or else be subject to more limited substance requirements. Although it is presently anticipated that the ITC will have little material impact on the company or its operations, as the legislation is new and remains subject to further clarification and interpretation, it is not currently possible to ascertain the precise impact of these legislative changes on the company.
59
Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and 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.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern 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.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken against the management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S.-incorporated company.
If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services 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 this offering 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.
60
If any dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars.
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.
After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in another foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. 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.
Currency policies 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.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
| ● | our ability to identify or complete an initial business combination; |
| ● | our limited operating history; |
| ● | the success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
61
| ● | our ability to obtain additional financing to complete a business combination; |
| ● | the pool of prospective target businesses; |
| ● | the ability of our officers and directors to generate potential investment opportunities; |
| ● | the potential change in control if we acquire one or more target businesses for shares; |
| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
| ● | regulatory or operational risks associated with acquiring a target business; |
| ● | use of proceeds not held in the trust account; |
| ● | our financial performance following this offering; or |
| ● | the listing or delisting of our securities from Nasdaq or the ability to have our securities listed on Nasdaq following our initial business combination. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus 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 “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.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and administered from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located within the United States after this offering. However, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on us or our officers or directors within the United States in a way that will permit a U.S. court to have jurisdiction over us. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after our initial business combination.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act, 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 considered 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 as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
62
There is uncertainty as to whether the Cayman Islands courts would:
| ● | recognize or enforce against us judgments of U.S. courts based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and |
| ● | entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
We have been advised by Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited (“Ogier”), our Cayman Islands counsel, that 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. We have been further advised that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment:
| ● | is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; |
| ● | imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; |
| ● | is final; |
| ● | is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; |
| ● | was not obtained by fraud; and |
| ● | is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. |
Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken against the management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States-incorporated company.
63
We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units, will be as set forth in the following table:
| Without Over- Allotment Option | Over- Allotment Option Exercised | |||||||
| Gross proceeds | ||||||||
| From offering | $ | 69,000,000 | $ | 79,350,000 | ||||
| From private placement | 2,990,000 | 3,150,000 | ||||||
| Total gross proceeds | $ | 71,990,000 | $ | 82,500,000 | ||||
| Estimated offering expenses(1) | ||||||||
| Underwriting commission of 1.5% of gross proceeds from the offering (excluding the deferred underwriting commission of 2.0% payable in cash after our initial business combination in shares at $10.00 per share)(2) | $ | 1,035,000 | $ | 1,190,250 | ||||
| Underwriter accountable expenses | 100,000 | 100,000 | ||||||
| Initial trustee fee | 6,500 | 6,500 | ||||||
| Legal fees and expenses | 250,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
| Nasdaq listing fee | 80,000 | 80,000 | ||||||
| SEC registration fee | 12,707 | 12,707 | ||||||
| FINRA filing fee | 10,850 | 10,850 | ||||||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
| Transfer agent fee | 25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 70,000 | 70,000 | ||||||
| Underwriter non-accountable expenses | 20,000 | 20,000 | ||||||
| Bookkeeper | 15,000 | 15,000 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous expenses | 88,943 | 93,693 | ||||||
| Total offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions) | $ | 704,000 | $ | 708,750 | ||||
| Net proceeds of the offering and private placement(3) | ||||||||
| Held in trust | $ | 69,000,000 | $ | 79,350,000 | ||||
| Not held in trust | 1,251,000 | 1,251,000 | ||||||
| Total net proceeds (other than underwriting discounts) | $ | 70,251,000 | $ | 80,601,000 | ||||
| The following table sets forth the use of the estimated $1,251,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account. | ||||||||
| Use of net proceeds not held in trust(5) | ||||||||
| Legal, accounting, due diligence investigation, travelling and other expenses related to any business combination | $ | 600,000 | 47.96 | % | ||||
| Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations | 200,000 | 15.99 | % | |||||
| Payment of administrative fee to the Sponsor $10,000 per month, up to 15 months | 120,000 | 9.59 | % | |||||
| Nasdaq continued listing fees | 81,000 | 6.47 | % | |||||
| D&O Insurance | 200,000 | 15.99 | % | |||||
| Other miscellaneous expenses | 50,000 | 4.00 | % | |||||
| Total | $ | 1,251,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||
| (1) | A portion of the offering expenses, including the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee, the non-refundable portion of the Nasdaq listing fee and a portion of the legal and accounting fees, have been paid from the funds we borrowed from our sponsor, described below. These funds will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering available to us. If we determine not to proceed with the offering, such amounts will not be repaid. |
| (2) | No discounts or commissions will be paid with respect to the purchase of the private units. |
| (3) | The funds held in the trust account (which shall initially be 100% of the proceeds from the offering) may, but need not, be used to pay our expenses relating to completing our initial business combination, including deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the underwriters in an amount of 2.0% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering described below. |
| (4) | The amount of proceeds not held in the trust account will remain constant at $1,251,000 even if the over-allotment is exercised. |
64
| (5) | These are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of that business combination. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would be deducted from our excess working capital. |
Our sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 299,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($2,990,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor has further agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.
$69,000,000, or $79,350,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units will be placed in an account in the United States established and maintained by Wilmington Trust, National Association. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement that will govern the investment of such funds, the funds held in trust will be invested only in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasuries, so that we are not deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations, the proceeds will not be released from the trust account until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or our liquidation. The proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete a business combination to the extent not used to pay converting shareholders. Any amounts not paid as consideration to the sellers of the target business may be used to finance the operations of the target business.
The payment to our sponsor of a monthly fee of $10,000 is for general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, we may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by our audit committee that we lack sufficient funds held outside the trust to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with our initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. We believe that the fee charged by an affiliate of our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. This arrangement will terminate upon completion of our initial business combination or the distribution of the trust account to our public shareholders. Other than the $10,000 per month fee, no compensation of any kind (including finder’s, consulting or other similar fees) will be paid to any of our existing officers, directors, shareholders, or any of their affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of the business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. Since the role of present management after a business combination is uncertain, we have no ability to determine what remuneration, if any, will be paid to those persons after a business combination.
The net proceeds from this offering available to us out of trust for our working capital requirements in searching for a business combination will be approximately $1,251,000. We intend to use the excess working capital available for miscellaneous expenses such as paying fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business and for director and officer liability insurance premiums, with the balance being held in reserve in the event due diligence, legal, accounting and other expenses of structuring and negotiating business combinations exceed our estimates, as well as for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our initial shareholders, officers and directors in connection with activities on our behalf as described above. We will also be entitled to have interest earned on the funds held in the trust account released to us to pay any tax obligations that we may owe.
65
The allocation of the net proceeds available to us outside of the trust account, along with the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account available to us (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account), represents our best estimate of the intended uses of these funds. In the event that our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, we may reallocate some of such proceeds within the above-described categories. If our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available from the trust account is insufficient as a result of the current low interest rate environment, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our management team, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
We will likely use a substantial portion of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business, to pay holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account and to pay our expenses relating thereto. If the payment of our liabilities, including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the underwriters of 1.0% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering, were to reduce the amount available to us in trust necessary to pay all holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account, we would not be able to consummate such transaction. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account which are not used to consummate a business combination, to pay holders who wish to convert their shares into a portion of the funds held in the trust account or pay our expenses relating thereto will be disbursed to the combined company and will, along with any other net proceeds not expended, be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products.
To the extent we are unable to consummate a business combination, we will pay the costs of liquidating our trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation and has agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses
On February 28, 2025, we issued an unsecured promissory note to our sponsor with an aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000, which is non-interest-bearing. The principal of this note may be drawn down from time to time upon a written request from us to our sponsor. The principal under the note is payable on the earlier of the date on which we consummate the initial public offering of our securities or the date on which we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan our company funds as may be required, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our board of directors has approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available. These notes would be in addition to any notes we issued in exchange for the funds necessary to extend our life.
A public shareholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account (including interest earned on his, her or its portion of the trust account to the extent not previously released to us to pay our tax obligations) only in the event of (i) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period or (ii) if that public shareholder converts such public shares or sells them to us in a tender offer in each case in connection with a business combination which we consummate or (iii) in connection with an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior to the consummation of an initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
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 an 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 a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share capitalizations in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a share capitalization immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain our initial shareholders’ ownership at 25.0% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (without giving effect to the sale of the private units and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
66
The difference between the public offering price per share of ordinary shares, assuming no value is attributed to the units included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our ordinary shares after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of ordinary shares which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares.
As of February 28, 2025, our net tangible book deficit was $84,052, or approximately $(0.04) per share of ordinary shares. For purposes of the dilution calculation, in order to present the maximum estimated dilution as a result of this offering, we have assumed (i) the issuance of one-sixth of a share for each right outstanding, as such issuance will occur upon a business combination without the payment of additional consideration and (ii) the number of ordinary shares included in the units offered hereby will be deemed to be 8,050,000 ordinary shares (consisting of 6,900,000 ordinary shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus and 1,150,000 ordinary shares for the outstanding rights), and the price per share in this offering will be deemed to be $8.57. After giving effect to the sale of 6,900,000 ordinary shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 7,935,000 ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and assuming the issuance of 1,150,000 ordinary shares upon the conversion of the rights included in the units (or 1,322,500 ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), the sale of the private units and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book deficit at February 28, 2025, would have been $206,928 or $(0.06) per share (or $315,302 or $(0.09) per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), representing an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of $0.02 per share (or $0.05 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to the initial shareholders and an immediate dilution of 100.7% or $8.63 per share or (or 101.1% or $8.66 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to new investors not exercising their conversion/tender rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $69,000,000, less than it otherwise would have been because if we effect a business combination, the ability of public shareholders to exercise conversion rights or sell their shares to us in any tender offer may result in the conversion or tender of up to 6,900,000 shares sold in this offering.
| Without
Over-allotment | With
Over-allotment | |||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | ||||
| Net tangible book value before this offering | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | ||
| Decrease attributable to initial shareholders | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | ||
| Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering | $ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | ||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 8.63 | $ | 8.66 | ||||
| Percentage of dilution to public shareholders | 100.7 | % | 101.1 | % | ||||
67
In addition, the table below shows material probable transactions or sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming public shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of this offering. The table below assumes: Scenario A) 25% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, Scenario B) 50% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, Scenario C) 75% of the maximum number of our public shares are redeemed, and Scenario D) maximum of our public shares redemptions that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001 are redeemed.
| As of February 28, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| Without Over-Allotment Option Exercised | ||||||||||||||||
| Scenario
A 25% redemptions(1) | Scenario
B 50% redemptions(2) | Scenario
C 75% redemptions(3) | Scenario
D Maximum redemptions(4) | |||||||||||||
| Offering price of $8.57 included in the units (adjusted to include the value of the rights) | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | ||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share, as adjusted | 6.20 | 5.32 | 3.92 | 1.34 | ||||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 2.37 | $ | 3.25 | $ | 4.65 | $ | 7.23 | ||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public shareholders | 27.7 | % | 37.9 | % | 54.3 | % | 84.4 | % | ||||||||
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book value before this offering | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | ||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private units, net of expenses(9) | 70,251,000 | 70,251,000 | 70,251,000 | 70,251,000 | ||||||||||||
| Plus: Offering costs accrued in advance, excluded from tangible book value | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Deferred Underwriting commissions | (1,380,000 | ) | (1,380,000 | ) | (1,380,000 | ) | (1,380,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption(10) | (15,948,268 | ) | (31,896,536 | ) | (47,844,803 | ) | (63,793,071 | ) | ||||||||
| Less: Over-allotment option liability | (93,876 | ) | (93,876 | ) | (93,876 | ) | (93,876 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | 52,844,804 | $ | 36,896,537 | $ | 20,948,269 | $ | 5,000,001 | |||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to this offering(10) | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised | (258,750 | ) | (258,750 | ) | (258,750 | ) | (258,750 | ) | ||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the public units offered | 6,900,000 | 6,900,000 | 6,900,000 | 6,900,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the private units | 299,000 | 299,000 | 299,000 | 299,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the public units | 1,150,000 | 1,150,000 | 1,150,000 | 1,150,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the private units | 49,833 | 49,833 | 49,833 | 49,833 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Shares subject to redemption | (1,594,827 | ) | (3,189,654 | ) | (4,784,480 | ) | (6,379,307 | ) | ||||||||
| 8,529,007 | 6,934,180 | 5,339,353 | 3,744,526 | |||||||||||||
| (1) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 1,594,827 public shares, or 25%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (2) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 3,189,654 public shares, or 50%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (3) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 4,784,480 public shares, or 75%, of 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed. |
| (4) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 6,379,307 public shares are redeemed, which is the maximum redemptions that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001. |
68
As of February 28, 2025
| With Over-Allotment Option Exercised | ||||||||||||||||
| Scenario
A 25% redemptions(5) | Scenario
B 50% redemptions(6) | Scenario
C 75% redemptions(7) | Scenario
D Maximum redemptions(8) | |||||||||||||
| Offering price of $8.57 included in the units (adjusted to include the value of the rights) | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | $ | 8.57 | ||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share, as adjusted | 6.20 | 5.31 | 3.88 | 1.19 | ||||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 2.37 | $ | 3.26 | $ | 4.69 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public shareholders | 27.7 | % | 38.1 | % | 54.7 | % | 86.1 | % | ||||||||
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book value before this offering | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | $ | (84,052 | ) | ||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private units, net of expenses(9) | 80,605,750 | 80,605,750 | 80,605,750 | 80,605,750 | ||||||||||||
| Plus: Offering costs accrued in advance, excluded from tangible book value | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Deferred Underwriting commissions | (1,587,000 | ) | (1,587,000 | ) | (1,587,000 | ) | (1,587,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption(10) | (18,508,674 | ) | (37,017,349 | ) | (55,526,023 | ) | (74,034,697 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | 60,526,024 | $ | 42,017,350 | $ | 23,508,675 | $ | 5,000,001 | |||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to this offering(10) | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | 1,983,750 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the public units offered | 7,935,000 | 7,935,000 | 7,935,000 | 7,935,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the private units | 315,000 | 315,000 | 315,000 | 315,000 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the public units | 1,322,500 | 1,322,500 | 1,322,500 | 1,322,500 | ||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the private units | 52,500 | 52,500 | 52,500 | 52,500 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Shares subject to redemption | (1,850,867 | ) | (3,701,735 | ) | (5,552,602 | ) | (7,403,470 | ) | ||||||||
| 9,757,883 | 7,907,015 | 6,056,148 | 4,205,280 | |||||||||||||
| (5) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 1,850,867 public shares, or 25%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (6) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 3,701,735 public shares, or 50%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (7) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 5,552,602 public shares, or 75%, of 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed. |
| (8) | The numbers set forth in this column assume that 7,403,470 public shares are redeemed, which is the maximum redemption that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001. |
| (9) | Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $704,000 (or 708,750 if the over-allotment option is exercised). See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| (10) | 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 sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or public units in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of ordinary shares subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. |
69
The following table sets forth information with respect to our sponsor and the public shareholders:
| Shares | Total Consideration | Average Price per | ||||||||||||||||||
| Holder of | Purchased | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Share | |||||||||||||||
| Insider shares(1) | 1,725,000 | 17.04 | % | $ | 25,000 | 0.03 | % | $ | 0.01 | |||||||||||
| Private shares(2) | 348,833 | 3.45 | % | $ | 2,990,000 | 4.15 | % | $ | 8.57 | |||||||||||
| Public shareholders(3) | 8,050,000 | 79.51 | % | $ | 69,000,000 | 95.82 | % | $ | 8.57 | |||||||||||
| Total | 10,123,833 | 100.00 | % | $ | 72,015,000 | 100.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option and forfeiture by our sponsor of 258,750 ordinary shares. |
| (2) | Includes the issuance of an additional 49,833 ordinary shares underlying the rights contained in the private units. |
| (3) | Includes the issuance of an additional 1,150,000 ordinary shares underlying the rights contained in the public units. |
In addition to the material probable transactions or sources of dilutions discussed above, we note that there are possible other sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming public shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of the initial business combination may be uncertain, due to the uncertainty associated with the occurrence or the amount of securities that may be issued pursuant to such occurrence, including arising from: (i) any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates or designees, including the issuing of working capital units or extension units, (ii) any ordinary shares, preferred shares or debt securities that may be issued to third parties pursuant to any equity financing or debt financing in connection with the initial business combination, (iii) any additional securities that might be issued as we may seek an initial business combination with a target company with an enterprise value greater than the net proceeds of the offering, or (iv) other source of issue of securities, such as the reservation and issuance of any securities under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination.
70
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of February 28, 2025 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units in this offering and the sale of the private units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option:
| As of February 28, 2025 | ||||||||
| Actual | As Adjusted(1) | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Due to related party (2) | $ | 99,052 | $ | — | ||||
| Deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable (3) | — | 1,380,000 | ||||||
| Over-allotment liabilities | — | 93,876 | ||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 450,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 6,900,000 shares are subject to possible redemption, actual and as adjusted, respectively (4) | — | 69,000,000 | ||||||
| Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 1,983,750 and 2,282,750 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively (5) | 198 | 228 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 24,802 | — | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (9,052 | ) | (207,156 | ) | ||||
| Total shareholder’s equity (deficit) | 15,948 | (206,928 | ) | |||||
| Total capitalization | $ | 115,000 | $ | 70,266,948 | ||||
| (1) | Includes $2,990,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units. |
| (2) | On February 28, 2025, we issued an unsecured promissory note to our sponsor with an aggregate principal amount of $300,000, which is non-interest-bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) the date on which we consummate the initial public offering of our securities or (ii) the date on which we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities. |
| (3) | Each of the underwriters reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive its respective portion of the deferred underwriting commissions at any time prior to the initial business combination by providing written notice to us. |
| (4) | Represents net proceeds allocated to the 6,900,000 Class A ordinary shares less the allocated transaction costs related to this offering using the relative fair value method. All of the 6,900,000 Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the units in this offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares in connection with our liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with our initial business combination and in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In accordance with SEC guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Accordingly, all of the outstanding Class A ordinary shares are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares will be excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. Subsequent changes to the redemption value of $69,000,000 will be accreted over 15 months from the closing of this offering to our anticipated time frame to consummate an initial business combination using the effective interest method. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. |
| (5) | Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of initial shares by our sponsor and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and forfeiture of an aggregate of 258,750 initial shares. |
71
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of the company, for the liabilities of the company over and above the amount paid for their shares) to serve as a vehicle to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more target businesses. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our securities, debt or a combination of cash, securities and debt, in effecting a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:
| ● | may significantly reduce the equity interest of our shareholders; |
| ● | may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares; |
| ● | will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; |
| ● | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
| ● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities. |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
| ● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations; |
| ● | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and we breach any such covenant without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| ● | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; |
| ● | our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding; |
| ● | our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares; |
| ● | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
| ● | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and |
| ● | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
72
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, 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 due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
For the period from January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025, we had a net loss of $ 9,052, all of which consisted of formation and operating costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, as of February 28, 2025 we had no cash and a working capital deficit of $84,052. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans following the completion of this offering. Management plans to address this uncertainty through this offering, as discussed above. Our plans to raise capital or 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.
Our liquidity needs will be satisfied through the receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the initial shares and a promissory note with our sponsor with a principal amount of $300,000 that is more fully described below. Furthermore, we estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering of $69,000,000 (or $79,350,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), deducting offering expenses of approximately $704,000 (or 708,750 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and underwriting discounts and commissions of $1,035,000 (or $1,190,250 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (not including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions) and (2) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of up to $10.00 will be $2,990,000 (or $3,150,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions). Of this amount, $69,000,000 (or $79,350,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining $1,251,000 (whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will not be held in the trust account.
We intend to use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business or businesses and to pay our expenses relating thereto, including underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the underwriters in an amount of 1.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering upon consummation of our initial business combination. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account, as well as any other net proceeds not expended, will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders’ fees that we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.
Over the next 15 months, we will be using the funds held outside of the trust account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. Out of the funds available outside the trust account, we anticipate that we will incur approximately:
| ● | $600,000 of expenses for legal, accounting, due diligence, travelling and others related to any business combination; |
| ● | $200,000 of expenses for legal and accounting related to regulatory reporting obligations; |
| ● | $200,000 of expenses for director and officer insurance premiums; |
| ● | $120,000 for the payment of the administrative fee to our sponsor ($10,000 per month for 12months); |
| ● | $81,000 of Nasdaq continued listing fees; and |
| ● | $50,000 for other miscellaneous expenses. |
73
If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available to us from the trust account is less than we expect as a result of the current interest rate environment, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Related Party Transactions
In February 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our initial shareholder, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share. The 1,983,750 initial shares held by our initial shareholder include an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholder will collectively own 25.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (without giving effect to the sale of the private units and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering).
Our sponsor has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,990,000. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds from the offering) in this offering is held in trust. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option.
On February 28, 2025, we issued an unsecured promissory note to our sponsor with an aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000, which is non-interest-bearing. The principal of this note may be drawn down from time to time upon a written request from us to our sponsor. The principal under the note is payable on the earlier of the date on which we consummate the initial public offering of our securities or the date on which we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities.
Our sponsor will agree, commencing from the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, to make available to us certain general and administrative services, including office space, administrative and support services, as we may require from time to time. We have agreed to pay our sponsor $10,000 per month for these services. No administrative service expense had been paid for the period from January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025.
If needed to finance transaction costs in connection with searching for a target business or consummating an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the 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. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the working capital loans may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. We believe the purchase price of these units will approximate the fair value of such units when issued. However, if it is determined, at the time of issuance, that the fair value of such units exceeds the purchase price, we would record compensation expense for the excess of the fair value of the units on the day of issuance over the purchase price in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 Compensation - Stock Compensation.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to certify the effectiveness of our internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Only in the event that 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 internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
74
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment, nor have our auditors tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
| ● | staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties; |
| ● | reconciliation of accounts; |
| ● | proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate; |
| ● | evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions; |
| ● | documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and |
| ● | documentation of accounting policies and procedures. |
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when, or if, required by Section 404. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering, including amounts in the trust account, will be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and do not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.
JOBS Act
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 such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with 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, (1) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (2) 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, (3) 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 (4) 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 this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
75
Introduction
We are a newly incorporated blank check company formed in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.”
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. Currently, we do not have any specific business combination under consideration or contemplation, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, contacted any prospective target business or had any discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, conduct any research, or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business. We are confident that we will be able to find a target business that will meet expectations. We intend to capitalize on the strengths and experiences of our management team to select, acquire and form a business combination that has a competitive advantage in their core business and is positioned to bring in high returns and long-term sustainable growth.
Competitive Strengths
Our management team is led by William Rosenstadt, our chairman and chief executive officer, who has been a practicing corporate and securities lawyer since 1995. Mr. Rosenstadt is also the founding member and the managing partner of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP, an international law firm, formed in 2006. Mr. Rosenstadt received his Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1995 and his Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 1990. Our mission is to maximize shareholder value by identifying an acquisition target with significant growth prospects. The breadth and depth of our management team’s experience empower us to adeptly identify, thoroughly assess, and strategically structure transactions to the advantage of all shareholders. Additionally, we are positioned to source deals through our sponsor or their affiliates, enhancing our capacity to realize our strategic objectives. We believe we have the following key competitive strengths.
Seasoned management team with proven track record
Leveraging the extensive experience of our management team, which comprises executives of different companies across multiple sectors and industries, we have a distinct advantage in sourcing, evaluating and consummating an attractive transaction. We believe that our management’s track record of identifying and sourcing business combination targets positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential candidates and select the one that will be well received by the public markets.
Differentiated access to deal sourcing and leading industry relationships
Our target identification and selection process will leverage the broad and deep relationship network of our management team, sponsor and other strategic and operating partners across corporate executives, founders, venture capitalists and private equity firms. We believe that, through their broad range of industry contacts and deep industry insights, we are well-positioned to identify and access a differentiated pipeline of high-quality business combination opportunities. We expect these sourcing capabilities will be further bolstered by our reputation and deep industry relationships.
Strong understanding of the public and private markets
We believe that the significant experience of our management team in general corporate governance, capital markets and M&A transactions will greatly assist us in consummating transactions at attractive valuations. Our ability to assess potential target companies at a high diligence standard increases the likelihood that a company is suitable for public listing, together with our experienced judgement on how well a target company will trade in the public markets, will be essential to our selection process and ability to create shareholder value.
Robust execution and structuring capabilities
Our combined expertise and reputation will allow us to source and complete transactions possessing structural attributes that create an attractive investment thesis. These types of transactions are typically complex and require creativity, industry knowledge and expertise, rigorous due diligence, and extensive negotiations and documentation. We believe that by focusing our investment activities on these types of transactions, we are able to generate investment opportunities that have attractive risk/reward profiles based on their valuations and structural characteristics.
76
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to any particular industry or geographic region. Specifically, we will adopt the following major acquisition strategy:
| ● | leverage our management team’s operational expertise, successful deal experience, and extensive knowledge in a broad sector horizon to effectively and efficiently seek acquisition opportunities and may pursue targets in, any industry or geography; |
| ● | leverage the unique combination of proven deal execution capabilities, extensive relationship networks and professional investment track record of our sponsor and management team’s extensive experience with listed companies, capital market transactions and investing in companies across a wide range of sectors; |
| ● | focus our search for a target company that has compelling economics, potential for high recurring revenue, a defensible market position, and successful management teams that are seeking access to the public capital markets; |
| ● | generate attractive returns and create value for our shareholders by applying a disciplined strategy of identifying attractive investment opportunities that could benefit from the addition of capital, management expertise and strategic insights; |
| ● | identify an opportunity where our management team’s expertise could effect a positive transformation of the existing business to improve the overall value propositions while maximizing shareholder value; |
| ● | identify companies that are underperforming their potential due to a temporary period of dislocation in the markets; and |
| ● | source initial business combination opportunities through the extensive networks of our management team, sponsor and their affiliates, including seasoned executives and operators, private equity investors, lenders, attorneys and family offices, that we believe will provide our management team with a robust flow of acquisition opportunities. |
Our management team has decades of combined experience setting and implementing strategies to grow revenues and improve profitability, including developing growth initiatives, developing capital allocation strategies, reducing expenses to increase earnings or to redeploy capital into more beneficial initiatives, pursuing add-on acquisitions and divestitures, engaging in capital markets and other financing or restructuring activities, evaluating, changing or enhancing management when appropriate, and crafting other initiatives.
To execute our business strategy, we intend to:
| ● | utilize our management team’s extensive network of company owners, management teams, financial intermediaries and others to identify appropriate candidates for a possible business combination; |
| ● | conduct rigorous research and analysis of various industries and companies to identify promising potential targets; |
| ● | conduct a rigorous and thorough due diligence review of one or more targets, including an analysis of overall industry and competitive conditions and of company specific information, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, competitor analysis and reviews of operational, financial and business and other information, among others, in the evaluation process to ensure a high-quality potential target; |
| ● | utilize our established deal execution experiences to better understand the competing priorities among stakeholders and creatively structure transaction terms to reach a transaction agreement beneficial to all parties; |
| ● | identify under-exploited expansion opportunities overlooked by other companies where complexity or urgency mask hidden value and complete a business combination at an attractive price in terms of intrinsic value and future potential; |
| ● | implement a business plan that we believe will accelerate growth and provide the company with flexibility both financially and operationally; and |
| ● | seek further strategic opportunities in the form of acquisitions, divestitures or other transactions in order to enhance shareholder value. |
77
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating candidates for our initial business combination. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we consider it appropriate to do so.
| ● | Established businesses with long-term financial visibility. We will seek to acquire a target that has already generated, or has the near-term potential to generate, strong and stable cash flow, with predictable and recurring revenue streams. |
| ● | Defensible market position. We intend to seek target businesses with strong positions in an industry where they have disruptive or leading competitive technology, distinctive brand equity and/or product competencies. |
| ● | Growth opportunities through capital investment. We intend to seek candidates who may be at a point of achieving high growth and require additional expertise or capital to help drive their further expansion. |
| ● | Talented and incentivized management team with a proven track record. We will focus on candidates with a strong and experienced management team that has a proven track record of driving revenue growth, enhancing profitability and generating strong free cash flow. We will seek to partner with a management team that is well-incentivized and aligned in an effort to create enduring shareholder value, with the ambition to take advantage of the improved liquidity and additional capital that can come from a successful U.S. public listing. We expect that the operating and financial abilities of our management and board will help potential target companies to unlock opportunities for future growth and enhanced profitability. |
| ● | Benefit from being a public company. We intend to pursue a business combination with a company that we believe will benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and public profile associated with being a public company. We expect that the access to the public capital markets could allow such a target business to accelerate its growth, thereby enhancing its ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen its balance sheet and recruit and retain key employees through the use of publicly-traded equity compensation. |
| ● | Benefit uniquely from our capabilities. We will seek to acquire a business where the collective capabilities of our management and sponsor can be leveraged to tangibly improve the operations and market position of the target |
| ● | Attractive risk-adjusted returns. We intend to acquire a target that we believe can offer attractive risk-adjusted returns on investments of our shareholders. |
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly traded company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering. We believe that target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive, while offering greater certainty of execution than a traditional initial public offering. During an initial public offering, there are typically expenses incurred in marketing, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is approved by our shareholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented management.
Strong Financial Position and Flexibility
With the funds held in our trust account, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing, and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
78
Effecting a Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units, our share capital, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination. Although substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units are intended to be applied generally toward effecting a business combination as described in this prospectus, the proceeds are not otherwise being designated for any more specific purposes. Accordingly, investors in this offering are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various U.S. Federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be in its early stages of development or growth. While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
We have not identified a target business
To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders and other affiliates has engaged in discussions on our behalf with representatives of other companies regarding the possibility of a potential merger, share exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with us, nor have we, nor any of our agents or affiliates, been approached by any candidates (or representatives of any candidates) with respect to a possible business combination with our company.
Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
Sources of target businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings which will not commence until after the completion of this offering. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their respective affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In addition, we may pay our existing officers, directors, special advisors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction). If we decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors or initial shareholders, we will do so only if we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. However, as of the date of this prospectus, there is no affiliated entity that we consider a business combination target.
79
Selection of a target business and structuring of a business combination
Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses.
We believe such factors will be important in evaluating prospective target businesses, regardless of the location or industry in which such target business operates. However, this list is not intended to be exhaustive. Furthermore, we may decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.
Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.
The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.
Fair market value of target business
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance. We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure a business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, 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 a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 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-transaction 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 shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test, assuming that we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund-raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target business will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.
We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from Nasdaq. If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
80
Lack of business diversification
Our business combination must be with a target business or businesses that collectively satisfy the minimum valuation standard at the time of such acquisition, as discussed above, although this process may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses at the same time. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our 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 a business combination, and |
| ● | result in our dependency upon the performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses 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 acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, 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.
Limited ability to evaluate the target business’ management
Although we intend to scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full-time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination 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 them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Shareholders may not have the ability to approve an initial business combination
In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or abstain from voting, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders will agree, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. 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 based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules.
81
Our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed (1) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination, (2) not to convert any ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination, and (3) not sell any ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination.
As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction, which would require a simple majority of votes (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option), we could need as little as 2,438,001 of our public shares (or approximately 35.36% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that all issued and outstanding shares are voted, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association vote their shares at a general meeting of the company, we will not need any public shares in addition to our initial shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or vote against the proposed transaction, or whether they do not vote or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction, or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or ordinary shares in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial shareholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s share. In addition, our officers, directors, initial shareholders and their affiliates would structure such purchases to be in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| ● | if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| ● | our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| o | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| o | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; |
| o | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
| o | the identities of company security holders who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of company security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and |
| o | the number of company securities for which we received redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer. |
82
Conversion and tender rights
At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or abstain from voting, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders will agree, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The redemption rights will be effected under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law as redemptions. If we hold a meeting to approve an initial business combination, a holder will always have the ability to vote against a proposed business combination and not seek conversion of its shares.
Alternatively, if we engage in a tender offer, each public shareholder will be provided the opportunity to sell his public shares to us in such tender offer. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their public shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company.
Our initial shareholders, officers and directors will not have redemption rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly, whether acquired prior to this offering or purchased by them in this offering or in the aftermarket.
We may also require public shareholders, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under Cayman Islands law, the share registrar in the Cayman Islands will then update our register of members to reflect all conversions. The proxy solicitation materials that we will furnish to shareholders in connection with the vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time our proxy statement is mailed through the vote on the business combination to deliver his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. Under our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we will be required to provide at least five days’ advance notice of any shareholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a shareholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.
There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.
Any request to convert or tender such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of their conversion or tender and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the business combination or the expiration of the tender offer not to elect to exercise such rights, it may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their conversion or tender rights would not be entitled to convert their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.
83
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
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 sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares or units 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 or duty to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment 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 sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares, rights or units in such transactions.
The purpose of any such transactions could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination, (2) reduce the number of public units outstanding and/or increase the likelihood of approval on any matters submitted to the public shareholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) 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. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
84
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. 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. Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or units from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares or units from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| ● | if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or units from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| ● | our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| ● | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; |
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; and |
| ● | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
Please see “Risk Factors — If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public units from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public units.”
Redemption of public shares and liquidation of trust account if no business combination
If we do not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
85
If we are unable to consummate 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, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation 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, liquidate and dissolve. 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 liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the rights will expire and will be worthless.
The amount in the trust account will be treated as funds distributable under the Companies Act provided that immediately following the date on which the proposed distribution is proposed to be made, we are able to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. If we are forced to liquidate the trust account, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two (2) days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest net of taxes payable). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable.
Each of our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share redemption price from the trust account would be $10.00.
The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would be prior to the claims of our public shareholders. Although we will seek to have all vendors, including lenders for money borrowed, prospective target businesses or other entities we engage 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, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would 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 an advantage with a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refused to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, we would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to us if we chose not to engage such third party and evaluate if such engagement would be in the best interest of our shareholders if such third party refused to waive such claims. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refused 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 provider of required services willing to provide the waiver. In any event, our management would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and would only enter into an agreement with a third party that did not execute a waiver if management believed that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. 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.
86
Our sponsor has agreed that, if we liquidate the trust account prior to the consummation of a business combination, it will be liable to pay debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such debts or obligations do not reduce the amounts in the trust account and only if such parties have not executed a waiver agreement. However, we cannot assure you that it will be able to satisfy those obligations if it is required to do so. Accordingly, the actual per-share redemption price could be less than $10.00 due to claims of creditors. Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which 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, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public shareholders at least $10.00 per share.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.
The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:
| ● | our obligation to seek shareholder approval of a business combination or obtain the necessary financial information to be sent to shareholders in connection with such business combination may delay or prevent the completion of a transaction; |
| ● | our obligation to redeem public shares held by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination; |
| ● | Nasdaq may require us to file a new listing application and meet its initial listing requirements to maintain the listing of our securities following a business combination; |
| ● | our outstanding rights and the potential future dilution they represent; |
| ● | our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions to the underwriters upon consummation of our initial business combination; |
| ● | our obligation to either repay or issue units upon conversion of up to $1,500,000 of working capital loans that may be made to us by our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates; |
| ● | our obligation to register the resale of the initial shares, as well as the private units (and underlying securities) and any securities issued to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans; and |
| ● | the impact on the target business’ assets as a result of unknown liabilities under the securities laws or otherwise depending on developments involving us prior to the consummation of a business combination. |
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
87
Facilities
We maintain our principal executive office at 366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017.
Employees
We have two executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once management locates a suitable target business to acquire, they will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time to our affairs) than they would prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We will register 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 report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, the financial information included in the proxy solicitation materials will need to be prepared in accordance with U.S. 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. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days thereafter. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial information. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act beginning for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of its 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 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 independent registered public accounting firm 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. We will remain such for up to five years. However, if within a three-year period, we issue non-convertible debt exceeding $1.0 billion or generate revenues exceeding $1.235 billion, or if we have been a public company for at least 12 months and the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we have elected, under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, to 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.
88
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such, and we and our officers and directors have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares and contrasts the terms of our offering and the terms of an offering of blank check companies under Rule 419 promulgated by the SEC assuming that the gross proceeds, underwriting discounts and underwriting expenses for the Rule 419 offering are the same as this offering and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the terms of a Rule 419 offering will apply to this offering because we will be listed on a national securities exchange.
| Terms of the Offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Escrow of offering proceeds | $69,000,000 (or $79,350,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units will be deposited into a trust account in the United States established by Wilmington Trust, National Association, our trustee. | Approximately $62,100,000 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account. | ||
| Investment of net proceeds | $69,000,000 (or $79,350,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units held in trust will only be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasury securities. | Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. | ||
| Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business | The initial target business that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in our trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from Nasdaq. | We would be restricted from acquiring a target business unless the fair value of such business or net assets to be acquired represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds. | ||
| Trading of securities issued | The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares and rights comprising the units will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters informs us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading (based upon its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular), provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering. | No trading of the units or the underlying securities would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account |
89
| Election to remain an investor | We will either (1) give our shareholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account less taxes payable. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each shareholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under our post-offering amended and memorandum and articles of association, we must provide at least five days’ advance notice of any meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to exercise their rights to convert their shares into cash at such a meeting or to remain an investor in our company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company. | A prospectus containing information required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company, in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of the post-effective amendment, to decide whether he or she elects to remain a shareholder of the company or require the return of his or her investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account would automatically be returned to the shareholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all of the deposited funds in the escrow account must be returned to all investors and none of the securities will be issued. | ||
| Business combination deadline | Pursuant to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, if we do not complete an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), 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 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 on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
If an acquisition has not been consummated within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account would be returned to investors. | ||
| Interest earned on the funds in the trust account | There can be released to us, from time to time any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we may need to pay our tax obligations. The remaining interest earned on the funds in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our entry into liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. | All interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be held in trust for the benefit of public shareholders until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
90
| Release of funds | Except for interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination (in which case, the proceeds released to us will be net of the funds used to pay converting or tendering shareholders, as the trustee will directly send the appropriate portion of the amount held in trust to the converting or tendering shareholders at the time of the business combination) and the liquidation of our trust account upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. | The proceeds held in the escrow account would not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. | ||
| Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote | 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 post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares without our prior consent. However, we would not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. | Many blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of shareholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such shareholders in connection with an initial business combination. |
Potential Additional Financings
We may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our initial shares, our public shareholders may incur material dilution. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. These financing transactions are typically designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be lesser, and potentially significantly lesser, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. Any such additional financing, including issuance of equity or convertible securities, may result in our public shareholders suffering a significant dilution 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 initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of 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 liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
91
Sponsor Information
Our sponsor, Blueport Acquisition Corporation, is a Nevada corporation, which was recently formed to invest in our company. Although our sponsor is permitted to undertake any activities permitted under Nevada law and other applicable law, our sponsor’s business is focused on investing in our company. Our sponsor is managed by its two principals, William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang, and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 50% William Rosenstadt and (ii) 50% by Roy Jiang. William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang control our sponsor and have direct or indirect material interest in the sponsor.
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
Entity/Individual |
Amount
of Compensation to be Received or Securities Issued or to be Issued |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| Blueport Acquisition Corporation Blueport Acquisition Corporation |
$10,000 per month
1,983,750 Class B Ordinary Shares
299,000 (or up to 315,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) Private Units to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering
Up to $300,000
Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per units
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
Office space, administrative and shared personnel support Services
$25,000
$2,990,000 (or $3,150,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)
Repayment
of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses. Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in
connection with an initial business combination. Such units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing,
the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. |
Because our sponsor acquired the Class B ordinary shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the rights included in the units. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the initial shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our initial shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. See the sections titled “Risk Factors — “The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the initial shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline” and “Dilution.” Additionally, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. If our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates make any working capital loans, they may choose to convert up to $1,500,000 of such loans into up to an additional 150,000 private placement units, at the price of $10.00 per unit upon consummation of our business combination. To the extent any working capital loans are converted into units, the issuance of additional Class A ordinary shares underlying these units could result in a material dilution to the equity interests of our public shareholders. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and reduce the value of the Class A ordinary shares issued to complete the business combination.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or any other equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private units issued to the sponsor), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to our sponsor or any of its affiliates or to our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans) minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination; provided that such conversion of initial shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
92
Pursuant to a letter agreement entered with us, each of our sponsor, directors and officers will agree to restrictions on its ability to transfer, assign, or sell the initial shares and private units, as summarized in the table below.
| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
Class B Ordinary Shares
|
The earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property | Blueport Acquisition Corporation | Transfers permitted (a) to our or A.G.P.’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any affiliate or family member of any of our or A.G.P.’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any members or partners of the sponsor or their affiliates and funds and accounts advised by such members or partners, any affiliates of the sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement, in connection with an extension of the completion window or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or units were originally purchased; (f) pro rata distributions from our sponsor or A.G.P. to its respective members, partners or shareholders pursuant to our sponsor’s or A.G.P.’s limited liability company agreement or other charter documents; (g) by virtue of the laws of the Nevada or our sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our sponsor or upon dissolution of A.G.P., (h) in the event of our liquidation prior to our consummation of our initial business combination; (i) in the event that, subsequent to our consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property or (j) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (g); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g) and clause (j) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements. | |||
| Units in private placement | 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination | Blueport Acquisition Corporation | Same as above |
In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or for any other reason determined by our sponsor in its sole discretion, our sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our initial shares, private units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017, and our telephone number is 212-829-8937.
93
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors, executive officers and director appointees as of the date of this prospectus.
| Name | Age | Position | ||
| William Rosenstadt | Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| Kulwant Sandher | Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Yarona Yieh | Independent Director Nominee | |||
| Scott Silverman | Independent Director Nominee | |||
| Steven Sanders | Independent Director Nominee |
Below is a summary of the business experience of each of our executive officers, directors and director appointees:
William Rosenstadt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
William Rosenstadt, our chairman and chief executive officer, has been a practicing corporate and securities lawyer since 1995. Mr. Rosenstadt is also the founding member and the managing partner of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP, an international law firm, formed in 2006. Mr. Rosenstadt received his Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1995 and his Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 1990.
We believe Mr. Rosenstadt is qualified to serve on our board due to his years of legal experience representing publicly listed companies (including many special purpose acquisition companies) and executive experience as the managing director of a law firm.
Kulwant Sandher, Chief Financial Officer
Kulwant Sandher, our Chief Financial Officer, is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of experience in business and finance. Mr. Sandher graduated from Queen Mary, University of London (formerly known as Queen Mary College) in 1986 with a B.Sc. (Eng.) in Avionics. Mr. Sandher became a Chartered Accountant in England in 1991 and received his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in Canada in 1997. Mr. Sandher has considerable private and public company experience. He serves as CFO of Norsemont Mining Inc. (CSE: NOM) a position he has held since April 2018, and Smart Cool Technologies Inc., a position he has held since October 2019. Mr. Sandher has served as CFO of Vision Marine Technologies Inc., a Nasdaq listed electric outboard engine manufacturer from June 2019 to February 2024; CFO of ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp., a Nasdaq listed electric car manufacturer from June 2016 to November 2018; as CFO of MineSense Technologies Inc. from August 2013 until July 2015; as CFO of Alba Mineral Ltd. from June 2017 to April 1, 2018; as CFO of Delta Oil & Gas from October 2008 to September 2017; as CFO of Astorius Resources Ltd. from June 2017 to February 1, 2018; as CFO of Hillcrest Petroleum from December 2011 to April 2015; as CFO of Intigold Mines Ltd. from December 2010 to April 2017; and as COO & CFO for Marketrend Interactive Inc., from March 2004 to March 2006. Currently, Mr. Sandher serves as President of Hurricane Corporate Services Ltd. and as CFO of Norsemont Mining Inc., (TSX-V). Furthermore, Mr. Sandher served as a director of The Cloud Nine Education Group Inc from December 2015 to August 2022. Prior to August 2013, Mr. Sandher had also served as CFO of several publicly listed companies, including Hillcrest Petroleum (TSX-V), Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V) and St. Elias Mines (TSX-V).
Yarona Yieh, Independent Director
Yarona Yieh will serve as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Yarona Yieh has been a practicing corporate and securities lawyer since 2008. She became a partner at Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP in January 2025, having previously served as counsel at the firm from August 2017 to December 2024. Ms. Yieh earned her Master of Law from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2007 and her Bachelor of Law from China University of Political Science and Law in 2006.
We believe Ms. Yieh is qualified to serve on our board due to her years of legal experience representing publicly listed companies.
Scott Silverman, Independent Director
Scott Silverman will serve as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Silverman has over 30 years of business success on national and international levels, with a highly diverse knowledge of financial, legal and operations management; public company management, accounting and SEC regulations. Mr. Silverman is one of the founders, and since 2007, has served and currently serves as President and CEO of Thornhill Advisory Group, Inc., a multi-national corporate financial management and advisory firm serving clients around the world, and Thornhill Holdings, Ltd, a private equity firm that focuses its investments in the hospitality, technology, construction, real estate and healthcare sectors. He also, since November 2023, has served and currently serves as the CFO and a director of Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. a biotech company that specializes in genetic based diagnostics. Additionally, he currently serves as the CFO of Vitae Group, Inc., a global insurance brokerage, since December 2022, AP Capital, a private equity and advisory firm, since 2017 and CompEquip Solutions, a durable medical equipment company, since 2018. Mr. Silverman is also a director nominee of Muliang Viagoo Technology, Inc. (OTC:MULG). From November 2023 to September 2024, he served as the CFO of Vocodia Holdings, Inc (OTC:VHAI), a publicly traded artificial intelligence software company, and from August 2021 through April 2022 as the CFO of Sidus Space, Inc., (NASDAQ:SIDU), a publicly traded Space-as-a-Service company, both of which in his capacities, he oversaw their IPOs. From October 2018 through February 2024, Mr. Silverman also served as the CFO of Healthsnap, Inc. a healthcare Software as a Service (SaaS) platform on the cutting edge of remote patient monitoring and chronic care management and from November 2018 through February 2023 as the CFO of Riverside Miami, LLC, a mixed-use restaurant and entertainment project in Miami, Florida. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from George Washington University and a master’s degree in accounting from NOVA Southeastern University. We believe that Mr. Silverman is qualified to serve on our board by reasons of the above mentioned professional experiences and qualifications, specifically as it relates to financial management, accounting controls and financial strategy.
We believe Mr. Silverman is qualified to serve on our board due to his years of service as a chief financial officer and/or director of numerous public and privately held companies.
94
Steven Sanders, Independent Director
Steven Sanders will serve as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Steven Sanders is a retired corporate and securities lawyer who practiced for more than 45 years. He received his Juris Doctorate from Cornell University Law School in 1977 and retired as a senior partner of Sanders, Ortoli, Vaughn-Flam, Rosenstadt LLP in 2021. Steven sits on the boards of Helijet International Inc., the largest scheduled helicopter service in North America and Avalon Globocare Corp. (Nasdaq: ALBT), a Nasdaq listed healthcare provider.
We believe Mr. Sanders is qualified to serve on our board due to his years of legal experience as and experience as director of various companies listed on Nasdaq and other exchanges..
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors consists of four members and is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, which consists of Mr. Sanders, will expire at our first annual general meeting. The term of office of the second class of directors, which consists of Ms. Yieh and Mr. Silverman will expire at the second annual general meeting. The term of office of the third class of directors, which consists of William Rosenstadt, will expire at the third annual general meeting.
Prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on the appointment and removal of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on such matters during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to these rights of holders of Class B ordinary shares may be amended by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least 90% of such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company, or by way of unanimous written resolution. In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual general meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq.
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 vote to appoint officers as it deems appropriate pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
No compensation was awarded to, earned by, or paid to our officers or directors for the last completed fiscal year. Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay to our sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of our management team. In addition, our sponsor, officers and 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. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses, and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors and audit committee, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company. All 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. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely of independent directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Director Independence
Nasdaq requires that a majority of our board must be composed of “independent directors.” Currently Ms. Yieh, Mr. Silverman and Mr. Sanders would each be considered an “independent director” under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, which 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 Independent Directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our independent directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must also be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested independent directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We will establish three committees under the board of directors: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a corporate governance and nominating committee and will adopt a charter for each of the three committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
95
Audit committee
| ● | Under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. Our audit committee will consist of Ms. Yieh, Mr. Silverman and Mr. Sanders, each of whom satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Mr. Silverman will be the Chairperson of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which will be specified in our Audit Committee Charter, will include, but are not limited to: reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K; |
| ● | discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements; |
| ● | discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies; |
| ● | monitoring the independence of the independent auditor; |
| ● | verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law; |
| ● | inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
| ● | pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed; |
| ● | appointing or replacing the independent auditor; |
| ● | determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work; and |
| ● | establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies. |
Financial experts on audit committee
The audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of independent directors who are “financially literate” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.
In addition, we must certify to Nasdaq that the committee will have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Mr. Silverman is qualified as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Corporate governance and nominating committee
Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Ms. Yieh, Mr. Silverman and Mr. Sanders, each of whom is an independent director under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules. Ms. Yieh will be the Chairperson of the compensation committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which will be specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, will include, but are not limited to:
Guidelines for selecting director nominees
The guidelines for selecting nominees, which will be specified in the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:
| ● | should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service; |
| ● | should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and |
| ● | should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders. |
The corporate governance and nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The corporate governance and nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders, if any (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our memorandum and articles of association. The corporate governance and nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons.
96
Compensation committee
Effective as of the date of this prospectus , we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Ms. Yieh, Mr. Silverman and Mr. Sanders, each of whom is an independent director under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules. Mr. Silverman will be the Chairperson of the compensation committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which will be specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, will include, but are not limited to:
| ● | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
| ● | reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers; |
| ● | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
| ● | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
| ● | reviewing and approving the compensation disclosure and analysis prepared by Company management to be included in our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
| ● | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees; and |
| ● | reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, including our directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a 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.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
Upon consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of conduct and ethics that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees. The code of conduct and ethics will codify the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business.
Conflicts of Interest
Potential investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
| ● | None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities. |
| ● | In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our company as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management has pre-existing fiduciary duties and contractual obligations and may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
| ● | Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by our company. |
| ● | Our officers and directors undertake to vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors will not receive distributions from the trust account with respect to any of their initial shares if we do not complete a business combination. Furthermore, our initial shareholders have agreed that the private units will not be sold or transferred by them until after we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. For the foregoing reasons, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, completing a business combination in a timely manner and securing the release of their shares. |
97
Under Cayman Islands law, directors owe the following fiduciary duties:
| ● | duty to act in good faith in what the director believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; |
| ● | duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; |
| ● | directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; |
| ● | duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and |
| ● | duty to exercise independent judgment. |
In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty to act with skill, care and diligence. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge, skill and experience which that director has.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
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. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above-mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Furthermore, most of our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary obligations to other businesses of which they are officers or directors. To the extent they identify business opportunities which may be suitable for the entities to which they owe preexisting fiduciary obligations, our officers and directors will honor those fiduciary obligations. Accordingly, it is possible they may not present opportunities to us that otherwise may be attractive to us unless the entities to which they owe pre-existing fiduciary obligations and any successors to such entities have declined to accept such opportunities.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations he might have.
The following table summarizes the other relevant pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors:
| Name of Individual(1) | Name
of Affiliated Company | Industry | Affiliation(2) | |||
| William Rosenstadt | Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP | Law firm | Founder and Managing partner | |||
| Kulwant Sandher | ||||||
| Norsemont Mining Inc. | Mining | CFO | ||||
| Smart Cool Technologies Inc. | Energy | CFO | ||||
| Yarona Yieh | Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP | Law firm | Partner | |||
| Scott Silverman | Thornhill Advisory Group, Inc | Financial management and advisory | Founder, President and CEO | |||
| Thornhill Holdings Ltd | Private equity firm | Founder, President and CEO | ||||
| Vitae, Group, Inc. | Global insurance brokerage | CFO | ||||
| AP Capital | Private equity | CFO | ||||
| CompEquip Solutions | Medical equipment | CFO | ||||
| Steven Sanders | Globocare Corp. | Healthcare provider | Director | |||
| Helijet International Inc. | Helicopter service | Director |
| (1) | Each of the entities listed in this table has priority and preference relative to our company with respect to the performance by each individual listed in this table of his obligations and the presentation by each such individual of business opportunities. |
| (2) | Our directors and officers owe fiduciary duties to each of the entities that they are affiliated with in accordance with the fiduciary duties owed by persons in such capacity to the entity. |
98
Prior SPAC Experience
Although none of our directors or officers have previously served as a director or officer of a SPAC, Mr. Rosenstadt, our CEO and Chairperson, and Ms. Yieh, a director nominee, have extensive experience in assisting in the establishment of SPACs and in providing legal advice and helping structure and execute the de-SPAC process by which a SPAC engages in an initial business combination. Each of our directors and officers have years of experience with companies that have enacted business combinations, asset sales or similar transactions.
In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target which could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition to the above, Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
| ● | We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. |
| ● | Our initial shareholders purchased initial shares prior to the date of this prospectus and will purchase private placement units in a transaction that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, the private placement units will expire worthless. Furthermore, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their initial shares and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion thereof until the earlier to occur of: (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. |
| ● | our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Upon the closing of this offering, our sponsor will have invested in us an aggregate of $3,015,000 (or $3,175,000 if the over-allotment is exercised in full) comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the initial shares (or approximately $0.013 per share) and the $2,990,000 purchase price (or $3,150,000 if the over-allotment is exercised in full) for the private placement units (or $10.00 per units). Accordingly, our management team, which owns interests in our sponsor, may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the initial shares as our public shareholders paid for their public shares. |
99
| ● | certain members of our management team may receive compensation upon consummation of our initial business combination, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such compensation will not be received unless we consummate such business combination. |
| ● | Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. |
| ● | In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination. |
| ● | Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. |
| ● | We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. |
Upon consummation of this offering or thereafter, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses, and we will begin paying an affiliate of our sponsor $10,000 per month for office space and administrative and personnel services. In the event that following this offering we obtain working capital loans from our sponsor to finance transaction costs related to our initial business combination, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units on substantially the same terms as the private units at the time of the initial business combination at a price of $10.00 per units at the option of our sponsor. Additionally, following consummation of a business combination, members of our management team will be entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between members of our management team, our sponsor and its affiliates on one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. See the sections titled “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Summary — Conflicts of Interest”, “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination — Since our sponsor, officers and directors, any other holder of our initial shares may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares they may acquire during or after this offering), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.”
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, there may be payment by the company to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business, which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from funds held outside the trust account.
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
100
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their initial shares, and private shares any shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that, subject to certain limitations, the company shall indemnify its directors and officers against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings. Such indemnity only applies if the person 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, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. The decision of the directors as to whether the person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company and as to whether the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful and is, in the absence of fraud, sufficient for the purposes of the memorandum and articles of association, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our memorandum and articles of association. Our memorandum and articles of association also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer or director who at the request of the company is or was serving as a director or officer of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in that capacity, whether or not the company has or would have had the power to indemnify the person against the liability as provided in the memorandum and articles of association. We will 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.
These provisions may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
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 theretofore unenforceable.
101
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our ordinary shares included in the units offered by this prospectus (assuming none of the individuals listed purchase units in this offering), by:
| ● | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares; |
| ● | each of our officers and directors; and |
| ● | all of our officers and directors as a group. |
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 table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of rights as the rights are not convertible within sixty days of the date of this prospectus.
The below assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits 258,750 initial shares, and that there are 8,924,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding after this offering.
| Prior to Offering | After Offering(2) | |||||||||||||||
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Shares | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||||
| Blueport Acquisition Corporation (3) | 1,725,000 | 100 | % | 2,024,000 | 22.7 | % | ||||||||||
| William Rosenstadt (3) | 1,725,000 | 100 | % | 2,024,000 | 22.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Roy Jiang (3) | 1,725,000 | 100 | % | 2,024,000 | 22.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Kulwant Sandher (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Yarona Yieh (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Scott Silverman (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Steven Sanders (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| All officers and directors as a group (5 persons) | 1,725,000 | 100 | % | 2,024,000 | 22.7 | % | ||||||||||
All executive officers, directors and director appointees (five individuals) as a group
| * | Less than 1%. |
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is c/o Blueport Acquisition Corporation., 366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017. |
| (2) | Assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option and, therefore, forfeiture of an aggregate of 258,750 ordinary shares held by our sponsor, and includes 299,000 ordinary shares included in the private units to be purchased by the sponsor at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($2,990,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor has further agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust. |
| (3) | Represents Class B ordinary shares held of record by our sponsor. Our sponsor is managed by its two principals, William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang, and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 50% William Rosenstadt and (ii) 50% by Roy Jiang. By virtue of their shared control of our sponsor, William Rosenstadt and Roy Jiang may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares held directly by our sponsor. The address for our sponsor is 366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017. |
| (4) | Such individual does not beneficially own any of our ordinary shares. |
Immediately upon the completion of this offering, the sponsor will beneficially own approximately 22.7% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming the sponsor does not purchase any units offered by this prospectus). None of our initial shareholders, officers and directors has indicated to us that he or she intends to purchase securities in this offering. Because of the ownership block held by our initial shareholders, such individuals will be able to effectively exercise control over all matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of our initial business combination.
If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of the over-allotment option, our sponsor will have up to an aggregate of 258,750 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture as required by Cayman Islands law. Our initial shareholders will be required to have redeemed by us only a number of shares necessary to maintain their collective 20.0% ownership interest in our ordinary shares (excluding the private units) after giving effect to the offering and the exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
102
Our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the initial shares (except to certain permitted transferees), respectively, until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Additionally, our insiders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until at least 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any initial shares and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the initial shares or the private units (or any ordinary shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate.
Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any initial shares and the private units, as applicable. The permitted transferees shall mean (i) among the initial shareholders or to the initial shareholders’, or our officers, directors or their respective affiliates (including for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation), (ii) to a holder’s shareholders or members upon the holder’s liquidation, in each case if the holder is an entity, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the holder or a member of the holder’s immediate family, in each case for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, (vii) in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased, (viii) in the event of our liquidation prior to its consummation of an initial business combination or (ix) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property, in each case (except for clauses (vi), (viii) or (ix) or with our prior written consent) on the condition that prior to such registration for transfer, the transfer agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each transferee or the trustee or legal guardian for such transferee agrees to be bound by the transfer restrictions contained in this paragraph and any other applicable agreement the transferor is bound by.
Our sponsor has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,990,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. The purchasers of the private units have also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the initial shares) until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the loans may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our board of directors has approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.
Our sponsor and our executive officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters,” as that term is defined under the Federal securities laws.
103
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On February 28, 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our initial shareholder, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share.
If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of their over-allotment option, our sponsor has agreed that up to an aggregate of 258,750 ordinary shares in proportion to the portion of the over-allotment option that was not exercised are subject to forfeiture and would be immediately cancelled.
If the underwriters determine the size of the offering should be increased (including pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or decreased, a share capitalization or a contribution back to capital, as applicable, would be effectuated in order to maintain our initial shareholder’s ownership at a percentage of the number of shares to be sold in this offering.
Our sponsor has committed to purchasing from us an aggregate of 299,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,990,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 315,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except as otherwise described in this prospectus. The sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or the underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the initial shares) until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
On February 28, 2025, we issued an unsecured promissory note to our sponsor with an aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000 which is non-interest-bearing. The principal of this note may be drawn down from time to time upon a written request from us to our sponsor. The principal under the note is payable on the earlier of the date on which we consummate the initial public offering of our securities or the date on which we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors and their respective affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our board of directors has approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.
The holders of our initial shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and all underlying securities) and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the initial shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the end of the Lock-up period. The holders of a majority of the private units or securities issued in payment of working capital loans can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In addition, we may pay our existing officers, directors, special advisors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction).
We will reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf such as identifying and investigating possible target businesses and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or our or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
104
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions, including the payment of any compensation, will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors (to the extent we have any) or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors (or, if there are no “independent” directors, our disinterested directors) determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
Related Party Policy
Our Code of Conduct and Ethics, requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict-of-interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
We also require each of our directors and executive officers to annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested independent directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we 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 potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. In addition, we may pay our existing officers, directors, special advisors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction).
105
General
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company (company number OC-417529) and our affairs will be governed by our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, the Companies Act and common law of the Cayman Islands. Pursuant to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our share capital will be $69,000 divided into 450,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of par value $0.0001 each and 50,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of par value $0.0001 each. The following description summarizes the material terms of our shares as set out more particularly in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, we 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 Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of six in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination.
The ordinary shares and rights will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters determine that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the underwriters allow separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering.
We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating when separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights has commenced.
Ordinary Shares
Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares outstanding, all of which were held of record by our initial shareholders, so that our initial shareholders will own 22.7% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase any units in this offering and the over-allotment option is not exercised). Up to 258,750 of the initial shares will be surrendered for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. Upon the closing of this offering, 8,924,000 of our ordinary shares will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding surrender for no consideration of 258,750 initial shares) comprising:
| ● | 6,900,000 Class A ordinary shares included in the units issued as part of this offering; |
| ● | 299,000 Class A ordinary shares included in the private units; and |
| ● | 1,725,000 Class B ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders. |
In the event that we sell all of the units offered hereby, the initial shares will equal 20% of the public shares. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a share capitalization or share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount so that the initial shares equal 20.0% of the public shares sold in this offering.
106
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. However, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to (i) appoint or remove directors in any election held prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, meaning that holders of Class A ordinary shares will not have the right to vote to appoint any directors until after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) continue the company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of our approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands). The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing these matters prior to our initial business combination may only be amended by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least 90% (or, where such amendment is proposed in respect of the consummation of our initial business combination, two-thirds) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders except as required by law. Unless otherwise specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our ordinary shares that are represented in person or by proxy and are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, which (except as outlined above) requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company, and pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; such actions include amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (other than the provisions referred to above) and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being appointed in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote and voted for the appointment of directors can appoint all of the directors. Our shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will authorize the issuance of up to 450,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of Class A ordinary shares which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our shareholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination. 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 accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual general meeting until 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 or appoint directors other than to ensure that the company has at least one director at all times. We may not hold an annual general meeting to appoint new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. Our sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination.. Unlike many special purpose acquisition companies that hold shareholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a shareholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, like many special purpose acquisition companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules.
107
If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company. However, if our initial business combination is structured as a statutory merger or consolidation with another company under Cayman Islands law, the approval of our initial business combination will require a special resolution, which requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company. However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public shareholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of an ordinary resolution, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association require that at least five clear days’ notice will be given of any general meeting.
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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide 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 redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our shareholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such shareholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such shareholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And, as a result, such shareholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their initial shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction, which would require a simple majority of votes (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option), we could need as little as 2,438,001 of our public shares (or approximately 35.36% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that all issued and outstanding shares are voted, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association vote their shares at a general meeting of the company, we will not need any public shares in addition to our initial shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or vote against the proposed transaction, or whether they do not vote or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction, or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we have not completed our initial business combination within the completion window, 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 (and subject to lawfully available funds therefor), 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay 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, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination.
108
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our shareholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of shares, if any, having preference over the ordinary shares. Our shareholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein.
Initial shares
The initial shares are designated as Class B ordinary shares and, except as described below, are identical to the Class A ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of initial shares have the same shareholder rights as public shareholders, except that (i) the initial shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, (ii) the initial shares are entitled to registration rights; (iii) our sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to (A) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (B) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (C) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (D) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving our initial business combination, (iv) the initial shares are automatically convertible into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described herein and in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and (v) prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on the appointment and removal of directors or continuing the company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of our approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands).
The initial shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or any other equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private placement units issued to the sponsor), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination; provided that such conversion of initial shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
With certain limited exceptions, the initial shares are not transferable, assignable or saleable (except to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after our initial business combination or (2) we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Up to 258,750 initial shares will be surrendered to us for no consideration depending on the exercise of the over-allotment option.
109
Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the sponsor may Transfer all or any portion of its membership interests in the sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Shareholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Initial Shares and Private Placement Units”.
Register of Members
Under the Companies Act, the ordinary shares are deemed to be issued when the name of the shareholder is entered in our register of members. Our register of members will be maintained by our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, which will enter the name of Cede & Co in our register of members on the closing of this offering as nominee for each of the respective public shareholders. If (a) information that is required to be entered in the register of members is omitted from the register or is inaccurately entered in the register, or (b) there is unreasonable delay in entering information in the register, a shareholder of the company, or any person who is aggrieved by the omission, inaccuracy or delay, may apply to the Cayman Islands courts for an order that the register be rectified, and the court may either refuse the application or order the rectification of the register, and may direct the company to pay all costs of the application and any damages the applicant may have sustained.
Rights
Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of six rights will automatically receive one ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination, even if the holder of a public right converted all ordinary shares held by him, her or it in connection with the initial business combination or an amendment to our memorandum and articles of association with respect to our pre-business combination activities. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of six rights will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the shares underlying the rights upon consummation of the business combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive his, her or its additional ordinary shares upon consummation of an initial business combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of ours). If we enter into a definitive agreement for a business combination in which we will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary shares basis.
We 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 Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of six in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of an initial business combination. Additionally, in no event will we be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
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 a 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 a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our Transfer Agent and Rights Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares and rights agent for our rights is VStock Transfer, LLC, 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY 11598.
110
We have also agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the rights agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. See “Risk Factors — Our right agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our rights, which could limit the ability of right holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” on page 36 of this prospectus. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Listing of our Securities
There is presently no public market for our units, ordinary shares, or rights.
We have applied to have our units listed on Nasdaq under the symbol: “BPAC,” and our ordinary shares and rights, once they begin separate trading, to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BPAC,” and “BPACR,” respectively. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of Nasdaq, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq as we might not meet certain continued listing standards.
Certain Differences in Corporate Law
Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us that materially differ from the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. In certain circumstances, the Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction) so as to form a single surviving company.
Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of two-thirds of the votes of shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the votes at a general meeting in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.
111
Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidation is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his, her or its shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30-day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30-day period expires, the company must (and any dissenting shareholder may) file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a seventy-five percent (75%) in value of the shareholders or class of shareholders, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
| ● | we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with; |
| ● | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; |
| ● | the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and |
| ● | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.” |
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Squeeze-out Provisions. When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer relates is made within four months after making such offer, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
112
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Shareholders’ Suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule, a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English law authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge:
| ● | an act which is illegal or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders; |
| ● | an act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and |
| ● | an act which constitutes a “fraud on the minority” where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company. |
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce a foreign judgment, without any re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided such judgment:
| ● | is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; |
| ● | imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; |
| ● | is final; |
| ● | is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; |
| ● | was not obtained by fraud; and |
| ● | is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. |
Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
Special Considerations for Exempted Companies. We are an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as members of the company, for liabilities of the company over and above the amount paid for their shares) under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
| ● | annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act; |
| ● | an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection; |
| ● | an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting; |
113
| ● | an exempted company may not issue negotiable or bearer shares, but may issue shares with no par value; |
| ● | an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance); |
| ● | an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
| ● | an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and |
| ● | an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
Our Post-offering Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without a special resolution. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a resolution is deemed to be a special resolution where it has been approved by either (i) at least two-thirds (or any higher threshold specified in a company’s articles of association) of a company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given; or (ii) if so authorized by a company’s articles of association, by a unanimous written resolution of all of the company’s shareholders. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that special resolutions must be approved either by at least two-thirds of our shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given (i.e., the lowest threshold permissible under Cayman Islands law), or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders.
Our sponsor, who will beneficially own approximately 22.68% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and no over-allotment option is exercised), will participate in any vote to amend our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. Specifically, our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide, among other things, that:
| ● | if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), 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, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation 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, liquidate and dissolve; |
| ● | prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional ordinary shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination; |
| ● | although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from (i) an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm, that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view; and (ii) the approval of a majority of disinterested and independent directors (as the case may be at relevant time); |
| ● | if a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; |
114
| ● | so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq and the approval by a majority of our board, including a majority of the independent directors, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting discounts and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination; |
| ● | if our shareholders approve an amendment to our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would (i) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this initial public offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), or (ii) with respect to the other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, we will provide our public shareholders with 7the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their ordinary shares upon such approval 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 issued and outstanding public shares; |
| ● | we will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations; and |
| ● | unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in us, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer or other employee to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that we may have, each of our shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly we shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. The forum selection provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association does not apply to actions or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States of America, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim. |
The Companies Act permits a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands to amend its memorandum and articles of association with the approval of a special resolution which requires the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of such company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting or by way of unanimous written resolution. A company’s articles of association may specify that the approval of a higher majority is required; however, provided that the approval of the required majority is obtained, any Cayman Islands exempted company may amend its memorandum and articles of association regardless of whether its memorandum and articles of association provides otherwise. Accordingly, although we could amend any of the provisions relating to our proposed offering, structure and business plan which are contained in our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we view all of these provisions as binding obligations to our shareholders and neither we, nor our officers or directors, will take any action to amend or waive any of these provisions unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares.
Anti-Money Laundering - Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In some cases, the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exemption applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and revised from time to time (the “Regulations”) or any other applicable law. Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed verification of identity might not be required where:
| ● | the subscriber makes the payment for their investment from an account held in the subscriber’s name at a recognized financial institution; |
115
| ● | the subscriber is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a recognized jurisdiction; or |
| ● | the application is made through an intermediary which is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based in or incorporated in, or formed under the law of a recognized jurisdiction and an assurance is provided in relation to the procedures undertaken on the underlying investors. |
For the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, regulatory authority or jurisdiction will be determined in accordance with the Regulations by reference to those jurisdictions recognized by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as having equivalent anti-money laundering regulations.
In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority (“FRA”) of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the FRA, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Post-offering Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our authorized but unissued ordinary shares are available for future issuances without shareholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved ordinary shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Data Protection in the Cayman Islands - Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains the manner in which the company collects, processes and maintains personal data about investors of the company pursuant to the Data Protection Act, 2017 of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice or orders promulgated pursuant thereto (“DPA”).
The company is committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In its use of personal data, the company will be characterized under the DPA as a ‘data controller’, whilst certain of the company’s service providers, affiliates and delegates may act as ‘data processors’ under the DPA. These service providers may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to the company.
This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that, by virtue of making an investment in the company, the company and certain of the company’s service providers may collect, record, store, transfer and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified.
Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for the company to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request, (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax, or regulatory obligation to which the company is subject, or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by the company or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.
116
We anticipate that we will share your personal data with the company’s service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g., to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion and financial crime or compliance with a court order).
Your personal data shall not be held by the company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.
We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.
The company will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.
You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils the company’s obligation in this respect), (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data, (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing, (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected, (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial), (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data, (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands, and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.
If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with the company’s responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling +1 (345) 946-6283 or by email at info@ombudsman.ky.
117
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately after this offering, we will have 8,924,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, or 10,233,750 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, including the ordinary shares included as part of the units. Of these shares, the 6,900,000 ordinary shares (or 7,935,000 ordinary shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) included as part of the units sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering. All of those shares will not be transferable except in limited circumstances described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
| ● | 1% of the number of ordinary shares then issued and outstanding, which will equal 71,987 shares immediately after this offering (or 82,494 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full); and |
| ● | the average weekly trading volume of the ordinary shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale. |
Sales under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Historically, the SEC staff had taken the position that Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies, like us. The SEC has codified and expanded this position in the amendments discussed above by prohibiting the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by any shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or any issuer that has been at any time previously a shell company.
The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met:
| ● | the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; |
| ● | the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; |
| ● | the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 15 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and |
| ● | at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company. |
As a result, it is likely that pursuant to Rule 144, our initial shareholders will be able to sell their initial shares freely without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination assuming they are not an affiliate of ours at that time.
Registration Rights
The holders of our initial shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and underlying securities) and any securities issued to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the initial shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the end of the Lock-up period. The holders of a majority of the private units (and underlying securities) and securities issued in payment of working capital loans (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggyback” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
118
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our units, ordinary shares and rights to acquire our ordinary shares, sometimes referred to, individually or collectively, in this summary as our “securities,” is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our securities, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.
Cayman Islands Taxation
The following is a discussion of certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
Under Existing Cayman Islands Laws
The company is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax. The Cayman Islands currently have no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our securities or on an instrument of transfer in respect of our securities, unless the document is executed in, or brought to, the Cayman Islands (including being produced to a court of the Cayman Islands).
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion summarizes certain United States federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one Class A ordinary share) that are purchased in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our securities, by U.S. Holders (as defined below) and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below).
Because the components of a unit are generally separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for United States federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Class A ordinary share or rights components of the unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to holders of Class A ordinary shares and rights should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A ordinary shares and rights that constitute the units).
This discussion is limited to certain United States federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of our securities who are initial purchasers of a unit pursuant to this offering and hold the unit and each component of the unit as a capital asset under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion assumes that the Class A ordinary shares and rights will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our Class A ordinary shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This discussion is a summary only and does not consider all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of a unit by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances, including:
| ● | our founders, the sponsor, officers or directors; |
| ● | financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| ● | broker-dealers; |
| ● | taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules; |
| ● | S Corporations; |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; |
| ● | individual retirement accounts or other tax deferred accounts; |
| ● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
| ● | insurance companies; |
119
| ● | regulated investment companies; |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; |
| ● | expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares or five percent or more of the total value of our shares; |
| ● | persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services; |
| ● | persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; |
| ● | persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to Class A ordinary shares or rights as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; |
| ● | U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| ● | controlled foreign corporations; or |
| ● | passive foreign investment companies. |
Moreover, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof, and such provisions may be repealed, revoked, modified or subject to differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect of United States federal non-income tax laws, such as alternative minimum gift, estate or Medicare contribution tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to any United States federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not change the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of units, Class A ordinary shares or rights who or that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:
| ● | an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person. |
This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities or arrangements. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships holding our securities and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their own tax advisors.
120
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF THE PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES MAY BE AFFECTED BY MATTERS NOT DISCUSSED HEREIN AND DEPENDS IN SOME INSTANCES ON DETERMINATION OF FACT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COMPLEX PROVISIONS OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW FOR WHICH NO CLEAR PRECEDENT OR AUTHORITY MAY BE AVAILABLE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS AS WELL AS UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for United States federal income tax purposes, and therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you must adopt such treatment for United States federal income tax purposes. For United States federal income and other applicable tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one Class A ordinary share and the one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under United States federal income tax law, each investor must make its own determination of such value based on all the facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge
each investor to consult its tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share should be the shareholder’s tax basis in such share or right. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the Class A ordinary share or one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Class A ordinary share or one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share based on their relative fair market values at the time of disposition (as determined by each such holder based on all the facts and circumstances).
The foregoing treatment of the units, Class A ordinary shares and rights and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. If the IRS or a court were to determine that, contrary to the characterization described above, a unit is a single instrument for United States federal income tax purposes, the tax consequences to an investor could be materially different than those described below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units (and the components thereof) and any allocation of purchase price of a unit as described above is respected for United States federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income, in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes, as dividends the amount of any distribution of cash or other property paid on our Class A ordinary shares to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles). Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its Class A ordinary shares (but not below zero) and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such Class A ordinary shares. In the event that we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under United States federal income tax principles, a U.S. Holder should expect that all distributions will be reported as dividends for United States federal income tax purposes.
121
Dividends paid by us out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as described above generally will be taxable to a corporate U.S. Holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from other domestic corporations. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, under tax laws currently in effect and subject to certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), dividends generally will be treated as “qualified dividend income” and taxed at the lower applicable long-term capital gains rate (see “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights” below) only if our Class A ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, the Company is not treated as a PFIC at the time the dividend was paid or in the preceding year and certain other requirements are met (including with respect to holding period). It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of such lower rate for any dividends paid with respect to our Class A ordinary shares.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or rights (including on our dissolution and liquidation if we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period). Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such Class A ordinary shares or rights exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or rights would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at ordinary income rates.
The amount of gain or loss recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Class A ordinary shares or rights are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A ordinary shares or rights based upon the then fair market values of the Class A ordinary shares and rights included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A ordinary shares or rights so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A ordinary shares or rights generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to an Class A ordinary share or one right to receive one-sixth of one Class A ordinary share, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) reduced, in the case of an Class A ordinary share by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder is currently eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. U.S. Holders who recognize losses with respect to a disposition of our securities should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of such losses.
Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, in the event that a U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Class A Ordinary Shares” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares in an open market transaction, the treatment of the transaction for United States federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale or exchange of the Class A ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale or exchange of Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights” above. If the redemption or purchase by us does not qualify as a sale of Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “— Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption or purchase by us qualifies for treatment as a sale or exchange will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any Class A ordinary shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder described in the following paragraph) relative to all of our shares issued and outstanding both before and after such redemption or purchase. The redemption or purchase by us of Class A ordinary shares generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the Class A ordinary shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if such redemption or purchase by us (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
122
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also our shares that are constructively owned by such holder. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A ordinary shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the rights. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption or purchase by us of Class A ordinary shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80 percent of the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption or purchase by us. Prior to our initial business combination, the Class A ordinary shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other of our shares and otherwise complies with specific conditions. Whether the redemption or purchase by us of the Class A ordinary shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if such redemption or purchase by us results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption or purchase by us will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us generally will depend on the particular facts and circumstances applicable to such holder. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption or purchase by us of any Class A ordinary shares.
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption or purchase by us of any Class A ordinary shares will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “— Taxation of Distributions” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed Class A ordinary shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares. If there are no remaining shares, a U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the allocation of any remaining tax basis. U.S. Holders who actually or constructively own five percent (5%) (or, if the Class A ordinary shares are not then publicly traded, one percent (1%)) or more of the Class A ordinary shares (by vote or value) may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of Class A ordinary shares, and such holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers with respect to their reporting requirements.
Acquisition of Class A Ordinary Shares Pursuant to Rights
The treatment of the rights to acquire Class A ordinary shares is uncertain. The right may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the Class A ordinary shares issuable pursuant to the rights until such Class A ordinary shares are actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued.
The tax consequences of an acquisition of our Class A ordinary shares pursuant to rights are unclear and will depend on the treatment of any initial business combination. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an acquisition of Class A ordinary shares pursuant to rights and the consequences of any initial business combination.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
A non-U.S. corporation will be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of assets giving rise to passive income.
123
Because we are a blank check company, with no current active operating business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a startup exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income (the “startup year”), if (i) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (ii) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the startup year; and (iii) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the startup exception to us will not be known until after the close of our current taxable year and, perhaps, until the end of our two taxable years following our startup year (within the meaning of the startup exception). Further, after the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC (or we do not complete a business acquisition by the end of the first taxable year after the taxable year of our formation), then we will likely not qualify for the startup exception and will be a PFIC for our current taxable year.
Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year (and, in the case of the startup exception to our current taxable year, perhaps not until after the end of our two taxable years following our startup year). Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. In addition, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status for any taxable year.
Although our PFIC status is determined annually, an initial determination that our company is a PFIC will generally apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held (or is deemed to have held) Class A ordinary shares or rights while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. If we are determined to be a PFIC and, in the case of our Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder did not make either a mark-to-market election, a timely qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares, or a QEF election together with a purging election, each as described below, such U.S. Holder generally will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its Class A ordinary shares or rights and (ii) any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of the Class A ordinary shares during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares).
Under these rules:
| ● | the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares or rights; |
| ● | the amount allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income; |
| ● | the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and |
| ● | an additional amount equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder with respect to the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder. |
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may be able to avoid certain PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to our Class A ordinary shares (but not our rights) by making and maintaining a timely and valid QEF election (if eligible to do so) to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends. A U.S. Holder generally may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to its Class A ordinary shares in a year after our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares, then notwithstanding such QEF election, the excess distribution rules discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under one type of purging election, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold such Class A ordinary shares at their fair market value and any gain recognized on such deemed sale will be treated as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of such purging election, the U.S. Holder will have additional basis (to the extent of any gain recognized on the deemed sale) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in the Class A ordinary shares.
The treatment of the rights to acquire our Class A ordinary shares is unclear. For example, the rights may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the Class A ordinary shares issuable pursuant to the rights until such Class A ordinary shares are actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued, that would reach different conclusions regarding the tax treatment of the rights under the PFIC rules. In any case, depending on which characterization is successfully applied to the rights, different PFIC consequences may result for U.S. Holders of the rights. It is also likely that a U.S. Holder of rights would not be able to make a QEF or mark-to-market election (discussed below) with respect to such U.S. Holder’s rights. Due to the uncertainty of the application of the PFIC rules to the rights, all potential investors are strongly urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding an investment in the rights offered hereunder as part of the units offering and the subsequent consequences to holders of such rights in any initial business combination.
124
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed United States federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances. Under current law, a QEF election may not be made with respect to our rights.
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. 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 IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election, but there is no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. There is also no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our Class A ordinary shares, and the excess distribution rules discussed above do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our Class A ordinary shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no additional interest charge will be imposed under the PFIC rules. As discussed above, if we are a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of our Class A ordinary shares that has made a QEF election will be currently taxed on its pro rata share of our earnings and profits, whether or not distributed for such year. A subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable when distributed to such U.S. Holder. The tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income, and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. In addition, if we are not a PFIC for any taxable year, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to our Class A ordinary shares for such a taxable year.
Alternatively, if a U.S. Holder, at the close of its taxable year, owns shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable stock, the U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares in us and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, such U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect of its Class A ordinary shares. Instead, in general, the U.S. Holder will include for each of its taxable years as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its Class A ordinary shares at the end of such year over its adjusted basis in its Class A ordinary shares. These amounts of ordinary income would not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. The U.S. Holder also will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis of its Class A ordinary shares over the fair market value of its Class A ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s basis in its Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of its Class A ordinary shares will be treated as ordinary income. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to rights.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” generally, stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Nasdaq (on which we intend to list the Class A ordinary shares), or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. In general, the Class A ordinary shares will be treated as regularly traded in any calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of Class A ordinary shares are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. There can be no assurance that trading in our Class A ordinary shares will be sufficient to treat such shares as “marketable stock” for these purposes in any given calendar year.
If made, a mark-to-market election would be effective for the taxable year for which the election was made and for all subsequent taxable years unless the Class A ordinary shares ceased to qualify as “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules or the IRS consented to the revocation of the election. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our Class A ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. Upon written request we will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. There can be no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide such required information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is made) and such other information as may be required by the Treasury. Failure to do so, if required, will extend the statute of limitations until such required information is furnished to the IRS.
125
The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares or rights should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our securities under their particular circumstances.
Tax Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes will be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Furthermore, certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets), subject to certain exceptions. Specified foreign financial assets generally include any financial account maintained with a non-U.S. financial institution and should also include the Class A ordinary shares and rights if they are not held in an account maintained with a U.S. financial institution. Persons who are required to report specified foreign financial assets and fail to do so may be subject to substantial penalties, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes will generally be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Potential investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset and other reporting obligations and their application to an investment in our Class A ordinary shares and rights.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, Class A ordinary shares or rights (other than a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes) who or that is for United States federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates); |
| ● | a foreign corporation; or |
| ● | an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder; but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition of our securities. |
Dividends (including constructive distributions treated as dividends) paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect of our Class A ordinary shares generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States). If the dividend, despite being paid by a foreign corporation, is deemed to be U.S. source under the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, then withholding at a 30% rate applies, unless such tax rate is lowered by an applicable income tax treaty. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or rights unless such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains in the United States).
Dividends (including constructive distributions treated as dividends) and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) generally will be subject to United States federal income tax at the same regular United States federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.
126
As described under “U.S. Holders—Acquisition of Class A Ordinary Shares Pursuant to Rights,” the tax consequences of an acquisition of our Class A ordinary shares pursuant to rights are unclear and will depend on the tax treatment of any initial business combination. In addition, the tax treatment of a right that expires worthless is unclear. Accordingly, Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an acquisition of Class A ordinary shares pursuant to rights and the consequences of any initial business combination and the tax treatment of any losses that result if the rights expire worthless.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our Class A ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or rights may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status may be required to provide such certification on IRS Form W-9. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a holder’s United States federal income tax liability, and a holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder’s particular situation. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Class A ordinary shares and rights, including the tax consequences under U.S. federal, state and local, estate, non-U.S. and other tax laws and tax treaties and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.
127
We are offering the units described in this prospectus through the underwriters named below. A.G.P. is acting as the representative of the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below have agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the following number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.
| Underwriter | Number
of Units | |||
| A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners | 6,900,000 | |||
| Total | 6,900,000 | |||
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the units (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the units.
Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any units sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price not to exceed $0.10 per unit. If all of the units are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The underwriters have advised us that they do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
If the underwriters sell more units than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the effective date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 1,035,000 additional units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. Any units issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other units that are the subject of this offering.
We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from our initial business combination, we will not, without the prior written consent of A.G.P., (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the company; (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the SEC relating to the primary offering of any shares of capital stock of the company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the company, in each case, issued after the completion of the Business Combination; (iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank or (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Prior to this offering, there was no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in the equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, ordinary shares or rights will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, ordinary shares or rights will develop and continue after this offering.
We have applied to have our units listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BPAC”.
128
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering.
| Per Unit | Total | |||||||
| Public offering price(1) | $ | 10.00 | $ | 69,000,000 | ||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions | $ | 0.35 | $ | 2,415,000 | ||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 9.65 | $ | 66,585,000 | ||||
| (1) | Includes (i) $0.15 per unit, or $1,035,000 (or $1,190,250 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters in cash upon the consummation of this initial public offering, and (ii) $0.20 per unit, or $1,380,000 (or $1,587,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, for deferred underwriting commissions that will be placed in a trust account in the United States as described herein and payable to the underwriters in cash upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Excludes certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. |
If we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate, A.G.P. has agreed that it will forfeit any rights or claims to its deferred underwriting discounts and commissions then in the trust account upon liquidation.
We will bear all fees, disbursements and expenses in connection with the offering, subject to a maximum amount of $100,000 (the “Expense Cap”). Additionally, we have paid an expense advance (the “Advance”) to A.G.P. of $50,000. The Advance shall be applied towards the Expense Cap set forth herein and any portion of the Advance shall be returned back to the company to the extent not actually incurred. The remaining $50,000 shall be payable to A.G.P. upon the closing of the offering. In addition, we have agreed to pay A.G.P. non-accountable expenses, including the expenses of background checks,’ not to exceed $20,000.
No discounts or commissions will be paid on the sale of the private units.
Right of First Refusal
The underwriting agreement provides that, subject to certain exceptions, we will grant A.G.P., for a period of nine months after the date of the consummation of our business combination, a right of first refusal to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner and/or sole placement agent, at the A.G.P.’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings, during such nine-month period for the Company, or any successor to or any subsidiary of the Company, on terms customary to the A.G.P. A.G.P. shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker dealer shall have the right to participate in any such offering and the economic terms of any such participation. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), this right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the commencement of sales of this offering.
Stabilization
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell units in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the over-allotment option and stabilizing purchases, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
| ● | Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of units than it is required to purchase in the offering. |
| ● | “Covered” short sales are sales of units in an amount up to the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. |
| ● | “Naked” short sales are sales of units in an amount in excess of the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. |
| ● | Covering transactions involve purchases of units either pursuant to the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. |
| ● | To close a naked short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. |
| ● | To close a covered short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed or must exercise the over-allotment option. In determining the source of units to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option. |
| ● | Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase units so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. They may also cause the price of the units to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, it may discontinue them at any time.
129
We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering payable by us will be $701,340 excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to bear all fees, disbursements and expenses in connection with this offering, including, without limitation: the costs of preparing, printing, mailing and delivering the registration statement, the preliminary and final prospectus contained therein and amendments thereto, post-effective amendments and supplements thereto, the underwriting agreement and related documents (all in such quantities as A.G.P. may reasonably require); preparing and printing stock certificates and right certificates; the costs of any “due diligence” meetings; net roadshow; i-Deal system, filing fees (including SEC filing fees), costs and expenses (including third party expenses and disbursements) incurred in registering the Offering, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fees; preparation of leather bound volumes and Lucite cube mementos in such quantities as A.G.P. may reasonably request; transfer taxes; transfer and right agent and registrar fees; and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by A.G.P. in connection with its engagement, including, without limitation, any expenses and fees incurred by A.G.P.’s counsel, expenses incurred for background checks on the company’s senior management and board of directors to be conducted upon the execution of this engagement letter by a background search firm acceptable to A.G.P., subject to the limitations set out above.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay the underwriters fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriters prior to the date that is 60 days following the effective date of the offering, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which it is affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of an initial business combination.
The underwriters and their affiliates may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates, for which it may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for any such transactions.
The underwriters and their affiliates are financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include, among other things, securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, financing and brokerage activities. Such underwriters and their affiliates have in the past, in the ordinary course of business, provided certain of these services to affiliates of the sponsor, and have arrangements in place whereby they may currently or in the future provide such services to affiliates of the sponsor, for which they have received and may receive customary fees, interest, commissions and other compensation.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available by e-mail or on the web sites or through online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of common shares for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ web sites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by any of the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.
Selling Restrictions
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
130
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the EEA (each a “Relevant State”), no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the EU Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of units may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the EU Prospectus Regulation:
| a) | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the EU Prospectus Regulation; |
| b) | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the EU Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or |
| c) | in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, |
provided that no such offer of units shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the EU Prospectus Regulation. Each person who initially acquires any units or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and their affiliates and us that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2 of the EU Prospectus Regulation. In the case of any units being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5 of the EU Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the units acquired by it in this offering have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any units to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives have been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the units in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “EU Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
No units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the U.K. prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the U.K. Prospectus Regulation (as defined below), except that the units may be offered to the public in the U.K. at any time:
| a) | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the U.K. Prospectus Regulation; |
| b) | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the U.K. Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or |
| c) | in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the FSMA; |
provided that no such offer of the units shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the U.K. Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the units in the U.K. means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “U.K. Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
In addition, in the U.K., this prospectus is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the U.K. Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, or the Order, and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons,” or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the units in the U.K. within the meaning of the FSMA.
Any person in the U.K. that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the U.K., any investment or investment activity that this prospectus relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.
131
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan
The units have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the units nor any interest therein may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any “resident” of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, the units were not offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not be offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units, has not been circulated or distributed, nor will it be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
| (a) | a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or |
| (b) | a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the units pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: |
| (i) | to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; |
| (ii) | where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; |
| (iii) | where the transfer is by operation of law; or |
| (iv) | as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA. |
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The units may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
132
Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriters’ conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (the “DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The units to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the units offered should conduct their own due diligence on the units. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus, you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
In relation to its use in the DIFC, this prospectus is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia
This prospectus:
| ● | does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”); |
| ● | has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and |
| ● | may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act (“Exempt Investors”). |
The units may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the units may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any units may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the units, you represent and warrant to us and the selling shareholder that you are an Exempt Investor.
As any offer of units under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 15 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the units you undertake to us and the selling shareholder that you will not, for a period of 15 months from the date of issue of the units, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those units to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
The units may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the units or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of units will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of units has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of units.
Cayman Islands
No offer or invitation, whether directly or indirectly, is being or may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of our securities.
133
Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the units and rights. Legal matters as to Cayman Islands law, as well as the validity of the issuance of the ordinary shares offered in this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Ogier. McDermot Will & Emery LLP is acting as counsel for A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners in this offering.
The financial statements of Blueport Acquisition Ltd as of February 28, 2025, and the period from January 13, 2025, (inception) through February 28, 2025, appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Adeptus Partners, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report, thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as an experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
134
Financial Statements
INDEX TO AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To
the Board of Directors and Shareholder of
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the Company) as of February 28, 2025, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholder’s equity, and cash flows for the period January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively referred to as the financial statements).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 28, 2025, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Substantial Doubt 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 no cash, a working capital deficit of $84,052, and will continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of an acquisition, that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for 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 audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 audit, 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 audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2025.
/s/ Adeptus Partners, LLC
Ocean, New Jersey
April 8, 2025, except Note 8 dated May 16, 2025
F-2
BALANCE SHEET
| February
28, 2025 | ||||
| ASSETS | ||||
| Current Assets | ||||
| Prepaid expenses | $ | 15,000 | ||
| Total Current Assets | 15,000 | |||
| Deferred offering costs | 100,000 | |||
| Total Assets | $ | 115,000 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY | ||||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Due to a related party | $ | 99,052 | ||
| Total Current Liabilities | 99,052 | |||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | ||||
| Shareholder’s Equity | ||||
| Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 450,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding | - | |||
| Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,983,750 shares issued and outstanding(1) | 198 | |||
| Additional paid-in capital | 24,802 | |||
| Accumulated deficit | (9,052 | ) | ||
| Total Shareholder’s Equity | 15,948 | |||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholder’s Equity | $ | 115,000 | ||
| (1) | Includes an aggregate of up to 258,750 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 5). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 13, 2025 (INCEPTION) THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2025
| Formation and operating costs | $ | 9,052 | ||
| Net loss | $ | (9,052 | ) | |
| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1) | 37,500 | |||
| Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share | $ | (0.24 | ) |
| (1) | Excludes an aggregate of up to 258,750 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 5). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 13, 2025 (INCEPTION) THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2025
| Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares | Paid-in | Accumulated | Shareholder’s | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance–January 13, 2025 (Inception) | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Class B ordinary shares issued to the Sponsor(1) | 1,983,750 | 198 | 24,802 | - | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (9,052 | ) | (9,052 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance–February 28, 2025 | 1,983,750 | $ | 198 | $ | 24,802 | $ | (9,052 | ) | $ | 15,948 | ||||||||||
| (1) | Includes up to 258,750 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 5). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 13, 2025 (INCEPTION) THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2025
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||
| Net loss | $ | (9,052 | ) | |
| Net cash used in operating activities | (9,052 | ) | ||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||
| Payment of operating expenses via advance from a related party | 9,052 | |||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 9,052 | |||
| Net Change in Cash | - | |||
| Cash – beginning of the period | - | |||
| Cash – end of the period | $ | - | ||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information: | ||||
| Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of ordinary shares | $ | 25,000 | ||
| Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor under amount due to a related party | $ | 99,052 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations
Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on January 13, 2025. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region 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.
As of February 28, 2025, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activities from January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025 are related to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Public Offering”), which are described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s sponsor is Blueport Acquisition Corporation (the “Sponsor”), a Nevada corporation. The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Public Offering of 6,900,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit (or 79,350,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 299,000 units (or 315,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Private Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement to the Sponsor that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering (see Note 4).
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete a Business Combination having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into an initial Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully.
Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that at least $10.00 per Unit (as defined in Note 3) sold in the Proposed Public Offering will be held into a U.S.-based trust account (“Trust Account”). The funds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest solely in direct U.S. government treasury. Except with respect to dividend and/or interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay the Company’s tax obligation, if any, the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of the private placement units that are deposited and held in the Trust Account will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (A) modify the substance or timing of obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if the Company does not complete the Company’s initial Business Combination within 15 months from the effective date of this registration statement (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of all of our public shares if the company are unable to complete their initial business combination within 15 months from the effective date of this registration statement (unless such completion window is extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the Trust Account.
F-7
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations (cont.)
The Company will provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. If the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor and any of the Company’s officers or directors that may hold Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) (the “Initial Shareholders”) and the underwriters have agreed (a) to vote their Founder Shares, Private Shares (as defined in Note 4), Shares issued as underwriting commissions (see Note 6) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination and (b) not to convert any shares (including the Founder Shares) in connection with a shareholder vote to approve, or sell the shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with, a proposed Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Company has determined not to consummate any Business Combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation in order to avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. However, if the Company seeks to consummate an initial Business Combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the Trust Account upon consummation of such initial Business Combination, its net tangible asset threshold may limit the Company’s ability to consummate such initial Business Combination (as the Company may be required to have a lesser number of shares redeemed) and may force the Company to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. As a result, the Company may not be able to consummate such initial Business Combination and the Company may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all.
The Company will have 15 months from the effective date of its registration statement to complete its initial Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within such period, unless the Company extends such period pursuant to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), 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 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 the Company to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of its remaining shareholders and its board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their initial shares, private shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our 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 have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their initial shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and (iv) vote any initial shares and private shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of our initial business combination.
F-8
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations (cont.)
In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, the Company has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and the Company believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Company cannot assure the Sponsor will be able to satisfy those obligations.
Going Concern Consideration
As of February 28, 2025, the Company had no cash and a working capital deficit of $84,052. The Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering. The loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is payable on the earlier of: (i) the date on which the Company consummates an initial public offering of its securities, or (ii) the date on which the Company determines to not proceed with such initial public offering. As of February 28, 2025, the Company did not borrow under the promissory note as discussed in Note 5.
The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Completion Window. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (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 that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
In preparing these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, the Company’s management makes 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 statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period.
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 statements, 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
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
Cash and 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 did not have any cash or cash equivalents as of February 28, 2025.
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal and other professional expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering. The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1, SEC Staff Accounting bulletin Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering”, and SEC Staff Accounting bulletin Topic 5T — “Accounting for Expenses or Liabilities Paid by Principal Stockholder(s)”. Offering costs directly attributable to the issuance of an equity contract to be classified in equity will be recorded as a reduction of equity. Offering costs for equity contracts that are classified as assets and liabilities will be expensed immediately. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to equity. As of February 28, 2025, the Company had deferred offering costs of $100,000.
Net Loss Per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 258,750 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters (see Note 5). As of February 28, 2025, 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 loss per ordinary share is the same as basic loss per ordinary share for the period presented.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such an account.
Income Taxes
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 February 28, 2025. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Company is a Cayman Islands exempt company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.
F-10
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The underwriter’s over-allotment option is deemed to be a freestanding financial instrument indexed on the contingently redeemable shares and will be accounted for as a liability pursuant to ASC 480 if not fully exercised at the time of the Proposed Public Offering.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company will account for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (ASC 480). Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) will be classified as a liability instrument and will be 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) will be classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares will be classified as stockholders’ equity. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company will classify the Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. Given that the 6,900,000 ordinary shares (or 7,935,000 ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold as part of the units in the Proposed Public Offering will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., rights), the initial carrying value of ordinary shares classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. The accretion or remeasurement will be treated as a deemed dividend (i.e., a reduction to retained earnings, or in absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital).
F-11
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires the disclosure of additional segment information. ASU No. 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 as of the inception of the Company. Adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure (“ASU 2023-09”), which enhances the transparency and usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2023-09 on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3 — Proposed Public Offering
Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale 6,900,000 Units (or 7,935,000 Units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination (“Public Right”). The Company will not issue fractional shares upon the conversion of the rights. As a result, the holder must hold rights in multiples of six in order to receive shares for all of their rights upon closing of a Business Combination. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,035,000 Units to cover over-allotments, if any.
Note 4 — Private Placement
The Sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 299,000 Private Units (or 315,000 Private Units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,990,000, or $3,150,000, if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share (“Private Share”) and one right (“Private Right”). Each Private Right will receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of a Business Combination. The proceeds from the Private Units will be added to the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Completion Window, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Units and all underlying securities will expire worthless.
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On February 28, 2025, the Company issued to the Sponsor 1,983,750 class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregated consideration of $25,000, or approximately $0.0126 per ordinary share.
As of February 28, 2025, there were 1,983,750 Founder Shares issued and outstanding, among which, up to 258,750 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full, so that the Sponsor will beneficially own 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (not including the shares underlying the private placement units and assuming the sponsor does not purchase any Public Shares in the Proposed Public Offering and excluding the Private Units).
The Founder Shares are identical to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Public Offering, and holders of Founder Shares have the same shareholder rights as public shareholders, except that (i) the Founder Shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, and (ii) the Sponsor, officers and directors of the Company will enter into a letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which they will agree (A) to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares, private placement shares and public shares in connection with the completion of its initial Business Combination and (B) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares and private placement shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the effective date of the registration statement (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any public shares they hold if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within such time period and (iii) the Founder Shares and private placement shares are subject to registration rights. If the Company submits its initial Business Combination to its public shareholders for a vote, the Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement to be entered into with the Company, to vote any Founder Shares and private placement shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
F-12
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions (cont.)
With certain limited exceptions, the Founder Shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to certain permitted transferees)) until the earlier of 180 days after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the date on which the closing price of the Company’s ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination.
Promissory Note — Related Party
On February 28, 2025, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate amount of $300,000 to be used, in part, for transaction costs incurred in connection with the Proposed Public Offering (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is unsecured, interest-free; the principal may be drawn down from time to time upon a written request from the Company to the Sponsor. The Promissory Note is due on the earlier of: (i) the date on which the Company consummates an initial public offering of its securities, or (ii) the date on which the Company determines to not proceed with such initial public offering. As of February 28, 2025, no amount was outstanding under the Promissory Note.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement with the Sponsor on the effective date of the registration statement of the initial public offering through the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space and administrative and support services.
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units and any shares of the Company’s insiders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans and extension loans made to the Company (and any ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the underlying the private rights), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the registration statement. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the Founder Shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from trust. The holders of a majority of the private units and units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing on the date that the Company consummate an initial business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of an initial business combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
F-13
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingency (cont.)
Underwriting Agreement
The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 1,035,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of 1.50% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, or $1,035,000 (or $1,190,250 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 2% or $1,380,000 (or $1,587,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering held in the Trust Account upon the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
The underwriters have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of its initial Business Combination, and (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association).
Note 7 — Shareholder’s Equity
Class A Ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue up to 450,000,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares with $0.0001 par value. As of February 28, 2025, there were no shares of Class A ordinary shares issued or outstanding.
Class B Ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of Class B ordinary shares with $0.0001 par value. At February 28, 2025, there were 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding, of which an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of the initial Business Combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private units issued to the sponsor), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to our sponsor or any of its affiliates or to our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans) minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination; provided that such conversion of initial shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
Shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Unless specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as required by the Companies Act or stock exchange rules, an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company is generally required to approve any matter voted on by the shareholders. Approval of certain actions require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the ordinary shares who attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company, and pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, such actions include amending the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company.
F-14
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 — Shareholder’s Equity (cont.)
Rights — Each holder of a right will receive one-sixth (1/6) of one ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon conversion of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination, as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per ordinary share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary shares basis and each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively covert its rights in order to receive one share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares issuable upon conversion of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Completion Window and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, holders of the rights might not receive the ordinary shares underlying the rights.
Note 8 — Segment Information
ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statement information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker, or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has one operating and reportable segment. The Company’s CODM does not review assets by segment in his evaluation and therefore assets by segment are not disclosed below.
When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation the CODM reviews key metrics, which include the following:
| For the Period From January 13, 2025 (Inception) Through February 28, 2025 | ||||
| Formation and operating costs | $ | 9,052 | ||
Formation and operational costs are reviewed and monitored by the CODM to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a Proposed Public Offering and eventually a Business Combination within the business combination period. The CODM also reviews formation and operational costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget. Formation and operational costs, as reported on the statement of operations, are the significant segment expenses provided to the CODM on a regular basis.
All other segment items included in net income or loss are reported on the statement of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
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, the Company did not identify any subsequent event that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
F-15
Until [●], 2025, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
$69,000,000
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
6,900,000 Units
PROSPECTUS
Sole Book-Running Manager
A.G.P.
, 2025
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:
| Initial trustee fee | $ | 6,500 | ||
| Underwriter Accountable Expenses | 100,000 | |||
| Transfer agent fee | 25,000 | |||
| SEC Registration Fee / FINRA filing fee | 12,707/10,850 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 70,000 | |||
| Nasdaq listing fees | 80,000 | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 25,000 | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | 200,000 | |||
| D&O insurance fee | 200,000 | |||
| Miscellaneous(1) | 136,283 | |||
| Total | $ | 866,230 |
| (1) | This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by the company in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including other service fees and mailing costs. |
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 civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will 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, willful default or willful neglect.
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 theretofore unenforceable.
II-1
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
During the past three years, we sold the following ordinary shares without registration under the Securities Act:
| ● | On February 28, 2025, an aggregate of 1,983,750 initial shares were issued to our initial shareholder, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share, in connection with the company’s organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. | |
| ● | In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchasing an aggregate of 299,000 private units from the company on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they will purchase from the company at a price of $10.00 per private unit up to an additional 16,000 private units. These issuances 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.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
| (a) | The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement: |
| * | Filed herewith |
II-2
Item 17. Undertakings.
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters 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 of 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
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, United States of America, on June 26, 2025.
| Blueport Acquisition Ltd | ||
| By: | /s/ William Rosenstadt | |
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of William Rosenstadt and Kulwant Sandher, each acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-1 (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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 on June 26, 2025.
| Name | Position | |
| /s/ William Rosenstadt | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
| William Rosenstadt | (principal executive officer) | |
| /s/ Kulwant Sandher | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Kulwant Sandher | (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) |
Authorized representative IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in its capacity as the duly authorized representative of Blueport Acquisition Ltd, in New York, New York, on the 26th day of June, 2025.
| By: | /s/ William Rosenstadt | |
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
II-4
Exhibit 1.1
6,900,000 Units
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
[●], 2025
A.G.P./ Alliance Global Partners
590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as the representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, each underwriter individually, an “Underwriter”):
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1. Units.
1.1.1. Purchase of Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 6,900,000 units of the Company (the “Firm Units”) at a purchase price (net of the Upfront Underwriting Commission as described in Section 1.6(a) and the Deferred Underwriting Commission as described in Section 1.6(c)) of $9.65 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of (i) one Class A ordinary share, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and (ii) one right to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Ordinary Share upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Rights”). The Ordinary Shares and Rights included in the Firm Units will not be separately tradable until 52 days after the date of the final Prospectus (as defined below) unless the Representative informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering (defined below) and the sale of the Private Units (defined below) and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit (the “Public Offering Price”). The Firm Units, Option Units (defined below) and Private Units (defined below), each comprising one Ordinary Share and one Right collectively comprise the units to be offered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement (the “Units”), and the Firm Units and Option Units are referred to as “Public Units”.
1.1.2. Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Firm Units, or at such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the Offering is referred to herein as the “Closing” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: the proceeds from the Offering, inclusive of the Deferred Underwriting Commission (as described in Section 1.6(b)), shall be deposited into the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Shareholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) and pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, along with such portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Private Units (as defined in Section 1.4.2) in order for the initial funds in the Trust Account to equal the product of the number of Public Units sold and the Public Offering Price. Such funds shall be deposited into the Trust Account, upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the DTC for the account of the Representative). The funds deposited in the Trust Account shall be disbursed upon the earlier of: (i) the closing of the Business Combination (as defined in Section 1.4.1), or (ii) that the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the Closing Date (or such longer period that may be extended through a shareholder approval), unless otherwise described in the Trust Agreement. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day, and the term “Public Shareholders” means the holders of Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including any of the Insiders (as defined in Section 1.4.1 below) to the extent they acquire such Ordinary Shares in the Offering or in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares).
1.2. Over-Allotment Option
1.2.1. The Representative shall have the option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase all or less than all of an additional 1,035,000 Units (the “Option Units”) at $9.65 per Option Unit (net of the Upfront Underwriting Commission as described in Section 1.6(a) and the Deferred Underwriting Commission as described in Section 1.6(b)) solely for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall, at the Representative’s election, be purchased for each account of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions). Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. The Firm Units, the Option Units, and the Ordinary Shares and Rights included in the Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Public Securities.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative to the Company.
1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-Allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 2.1.1). The Representative will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. The Over-Allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of written notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing in accordance with Section 10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, if other than the Closing Date (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or be later than ten (10) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. Upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Representative, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Representative will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $9.85 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement, along with such portion of the gross proceeds of the sale of Private Units, in order for the initial funds in the Trust Account to equal the product of the number of Public Units sold and the Public Offering Price, upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests in writing not less than two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one (1) full Business Day prior to such Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for the applicable Option Units.
2
1.3. [Reserved.]
1.4. Private Placements.
1.4.1. In February 2025, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares to Blueport Acquisition Corporation (the “Sponsor”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.013 per share, including an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the Underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor will own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Offering (assuming the Sponsor does not purchase any Public Units in the Offering and without giving effect to the Private Shares (as defined below) (the “Founder Shares”). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the sale of the Founder Shares. The Founder Shares shall be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Letter Agreements (as defined in Section 2.24.1). The holders of the Founder Shares (i) shall have no right to any liquidation distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate any proposed initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”) within the required time period except with respect to any funds held outside of the Trust Account remaining after payment of all fees and expenses, (ii) shall not be entitled to exercise any redemption rights with respect to such Founder Shares and (iii) shall not be entitled to sell any such shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination. To the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised by the Underwriters in full or in part, up to 258,750 of the Founder Shares shall be forfeited in an amount necessary to maintain the holders of Founder Shares’ 20% ownership interest in the issued and outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option (excluding any shares purchased in the Offering, any Private Shares (as defined below) purchased in the Private Placement by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors or their affiliates (“Insiders”)).
1.4.2. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 below) an aggregate of 299,000 Units (or 315,000 Units if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full) (the “Private Units”), each consisting of one Ordinary Share (the “Private Shares”) and one Right (the “Private Right” and together with the Private Units and Private Shares, the “Private Securities”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) intended to be exempt from registration under Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The terms of the Private Units, Private Shares and Private Rights are as described in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Private Placement.
1.5. Working Capital; Trust Account Proceeds.
1.5.1. Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering, it is intended that approximately $[●] of the proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and Private Units will be released to the Company and held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.5.2. Trust Account Proceeds. Prior to the liquidation of the Trust Account, in the event the Company has not completed a Business Combination as required by its Charter Documents (as defined in Section 2.11 below) (the “Termination Date”), interest income on the funds held in the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account only in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company and up to $100,000 of accrued interest to pay dissolution costs and expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus.
3
1.6. Underwriter Compensation. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Representative or its designees an underwriting compensation equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and the Over-Allotment Option as follows:
(a) the Company shall pay, in cash, to the Representative or its designees an underwriting discount equal to 1.5% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Firm Units on the Closing Date and 1.5% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Option Units on the Option Closing Date (the “Upfront Underwriting Commission”);
(b) The Underwriters agree that 2.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($1,380,000) and 2.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Units (up to $1,587,000 in aggregate if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full) (the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”) will be deposited in and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to the Representative in the form of Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share for its own account upon closing of the Business Combination. The Deferred Underwriting Commission is due and payable only to the Representative and /or its designee. For avoidance of doubt, the Deferred Underwriting Commission will be calculated on the basis of and paid out of funds available in the Trust Account after payments made out of Trust Account to honor redemption rights of the Public Shareholders. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the trustee of the Trust Account, commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, Representative on behalf of itself and the Underwriters agrees that: (i) it shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission, including any accrued interest thereon; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Shareholders. The Representative shall have the right to agree to any further modifications to the Deferred Underwriting Commission on behalf of the Underwriters and any decisions relating to such modifications shall be made exclusively by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters. Representative on behalf of itself and the Underwriters further agrees that the Deferred Underwriting Commission will be calculated on the basis of and paid out of funds available in the Trust Account after payments made out of Trust Account to honor redemption rights of the Public Shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations of each Underwriter under this Agreement shall be fully satisfied upon the payment of the purchase price for the Public Securities purchased by such Underwriter on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date without any further conditions.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:
2.1. Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[●]) providing for the registration under the Act, of the Public Securities, including any related preliminary prospectus (the “Preliminary Prospectus”, including any prospectus that is included in the registration statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective (“Effective Date”) (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale,” as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on [●], 2025, for distribution by the Underwriter (such Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “Statutory Prospectus”). If the Company has filed a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been or will be registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative has determined that at the Time of Sale the Statutory Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Statutory Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract. The registration of the Public Securities under the Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
4
2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File Number [●]) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Public Securities. The registration of the Public Securities under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
2.2. No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any foreign, federal or state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.3. Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation. At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the effective time of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus contained or will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. On the Effective Date and at the Time of Sale, the Registration Statement did not, and on the Closing Date it will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and at the Time of Sale, the Statutory Prospectus does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, which information, it is agreed, shall consist solely of the names of the Underwriters and the subsection titled “Selling Restrictions” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”
2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein in all material respects and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in all material respects in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
5
2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s incorporation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
2.4. Changes after Dates in Registration Statement.
2.4.1. No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) no member of the Company’s board of directors or management has resigned from any position with the Company; and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Company’s board of directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.4.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its shares.
2.5. Independent Accountants. Adeptus Partners, LLC (the “Accountant”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, the Accountant is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. The Accountant has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
6
2.6. Financial Statements; Statistical Data.
2.6.1. Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, prospects, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenues or expenses. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Regulations which have not been included as so required.
2.6.2. Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, if any, are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.
2.7. Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted share capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Ordinary Shares or any security convertible into Ordinary Shares, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.8. Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.8.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The outstanding securities of the Company conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers, sales and any transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of the Company’s securities) or exempt from such registration requirements. The Founder Shares have been duly authorized, duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Founder Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Founder Shares has been duly and validly taken. The Founder Shares conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
2.8.2. Securities to Be Sold.
2.8.2.1. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
7
2.8.2.2. The Private Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Private Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Private Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Private Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. The offer and sale of the Private Securities was exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.
2.8.2.3. RESERVED.
2.8.3. No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
2.9. Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.10. Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Letter Agreements, the Trust Agreement, the Founder Shares Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 below), the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 below), the Promissory Note (as defined in Section 2.24.4), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.5), the Administrative Service Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.6 below), and the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.37) (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.11. No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject except pursuant to the Trust Agreement; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, business or assets.
2.12. No Defaults; Violations. No material default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.
8
2.13. Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.13.1. Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its incorporation and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its incorporation and in furtherance of the Offering.
2.13.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Public Securities, Private Securities, Founder Shares and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws, the rules of Nasdaq (as defined below) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
2.14. D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors, 5% beneficial owners and owners of unregistered securities acquired within the past 180 days (the “Respondents”) immediately prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement and provided to the Representative, as such Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by each of the Respondents, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect in any material respects.
2.15. Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Respondents or any of the Insiders, which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.16. Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
2.17. No Contemplation of a Business Combination. The Company does not have any specific Business Combination under consideration and it has not (nor has anyone on its behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective business (each, a “Target Business”) or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction.
2.18. Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.18.1. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the FINRA questionnaires (the “FINRA Questionnaires”) completed by the Company and each of the Respondents and provided to the Representative, as such FINRA Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by the Company and each of the Respondents, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires to become materially inaccurate and incorrect.
9
2.18.2. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Company Affiliate (as defined below) with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder, the sale of the Private Securities or the Founder Shares, or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.18.3. Except as described herein or in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any “participating member,” as defined in FINRA Rule 5110, with respect to the Offering (“Participating Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member, within the one hundred eighty (180)-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission.
2.18.4. To the Company’s knowledge, no officer or director of the Company or any direct or indirect beneficial owner of 5% or greater of any class of the Company’s securities, including the Insiders and holders of securities to be purchased in the Private Placement (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a Participating Member, or a person associated or affiliated with a Participating Member.
2.18.5. To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of a Participating Member (other than securities purchased on the open market).
2.18.6. To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any Participating Member.
2.18.7. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities or Private Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) will be paid to any Participating Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Participating Member, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.18.8. The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a Participating Member within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.18.9. To the Company’s knowledge, no person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission has any relationship or affiliation or association with any Participating Member.
2.18.10. To the Company’s knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no Participating Member has a conflict of interest (as defined by FINRA rules) with the Company.
2.18.11. Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission that is currently in effect, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a Participating Member, any person associated with a Participating Member, any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.
10
2.19. Taxes.
2.19.1. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Cayman Islands law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities or the Private Securities.
2.19.2. The Company has filed all non-U.S. and U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.19.3. If the Company satisfies the “start up exception” (as described in the Registration Statement) to the “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and subject to the discussion of PFICs and other federal income tax issues set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Taxation”, the Company will not be a PFIC for Federal income tax purposes for its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2025.
2.20. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Respondents or any other person acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that: (i) would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or otherwise subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if not done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have had a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if not continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company, including, without limitation, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction). The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the FCPA.
2.21. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
2.22. Bank Secrecy Act; Money Laundering; Patriot Act. Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Affiliate, has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (ii) the Money Laundering Laws or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.23. Officer’s Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to its counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.24. Agreements with Company Affiliates.
2.24.1. Letter Agreements. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and enforceable agreements (except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought) in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Letter Agreements”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders agrees to certain matters, including but not limited to, the transfer restrictions and voting of the Ordinary Shares held by them and certain matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus.
11
2.24.2. Subscription Agreements. The Sponsor and the Company have executed and delivered a securities subscription agreement dated February 28, 2025, which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Founder Shares Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased the Founder Shares. The Sponsor has executed and delivered a private placement units purchase agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed, among other things, that it will purchase on the Closing Date the Private Units in the Private Placement. Pursuant to the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the Sponsor has waived any and all rights and claims it may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Private Units in the event that a Business Combination is not consummated and the Trust Account is liquidated in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer any ownership interest in, except to permitted transferees or in certain limited circumstances, the Private Securities until the completion of the Business Combination.
2.24.3. Non-Competition/Solicitation. To the Company’s knowledge, no Respondent is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially and adversely affect such Respondent’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or officer of the Company, as applicable.
2.24.4. Loans. The Sponsor has agreed to make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $300,000 pursuant to a promissory note dated February 28, 2025 (the “Promissory Note”), which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and as described in the Registration Statement (the “Insider Loan”). The Insider Loan will not bear any interest and will be repayable by the Company on the consummation of the Offering.
2.24.5. Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and the Insiders have entered into a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.
2.24.6. Administrative Services. The Company has entered into an administrative service agreement (“Administrative Service Agreement”) with the Sponsor, substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, use of its personnel and other administrative resources, in consideration for payment by the Company of a monthly fee of $10,000, for up to 15 months from the closing of the Offering.
2.25. Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the funds held in the Trust Account may be released under limited circumstances. The Trust Agreement shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed in any way that modifies the rights or obligations of the Company in a manner that would materially and adversely affect shareholders’ or the Representative’s rights in the Trust Account without the prior written consent of the Representative.
2.26. Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets (exclusive of cash items and “Government Securities,” as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than Government Securities.
2.27. Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Public Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
12
2.28. Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.
2.29. Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the one hand, and any director, officer, customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.
2.30. No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
2.31. Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“SOX”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.
2.32. Nasdaq Eligibility. As of the Effective Date, the Public Securities have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq [Capital] Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement the Company will be in compliance with, the rules of Nasdaq, as amended.
2.33. Emerging Growth Company Status. From the date of the Company’s incorporation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
2.34. Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. As used herein, “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
2.35. Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains effective “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act to the extent required by such rule).
2.36. Definition of “Knowledge”. As used in herein, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the Company’s executive officers and directors, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented.
2.37. Rights Agreement. The Company has entered into a right agreement with respect to the Rights, Private Rights and any other rights that may be issued by the Company with VStock Transfer, LLC substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Rights Agreement”).
13
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1. Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2. Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1. Compliance. During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will promptly file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (ii) the time at which the Company is acquired or completes a going private transaction in a transaction where the Ordinary Shares are no longer outstanding, or (iii) the date upon which the Trust Account is to be liquidated if a Business Combination has not been consummated by the Termination Date, the Company (i) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Units (unless all of the Units have been separated in connection with or prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination), Ordinary Shares and Rights under the provisions of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not deregister the Units, Ordinary Shares and Rights under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act.
3.2.5. Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of SOX and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.
3.3. Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date.
3.4. Delivery of Materials to Underwriters. The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request.
14
3.5. Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period during the time when the Registration Statement is effective that, in the judgment of the Company or its counsel, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, (with respect to the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus and in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make commercially reasonable efforts to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6. Review of Financial Statements. Until the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report.
3.7. Affiliated Transactions.
3.7.1. Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with an entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless in each case the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.
3.7.2. Compensation. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company shall not pay any Insider or Company Affiliate or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, either the Offering or the Business Combination.
3.8. Investor Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain an investor relations firm with the expertise necessary to assist the Company both before and after the consummation of the Business Combination for a term to be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.
3.9. Reports to the Representative.
3.9.1. Periodic Reports, etc. For a period from the Effective Date and until such date upon which the Company completes the initial Business Combination or is required to be liquidated and dissolved, the Company will, to the extent such information or documents are not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from the Representative, furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Current Report on Form 8-K and any Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company; (iv) five physical copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this section.
15
3.9.2. For a period commencing on the Effective Date and until the date upon which the Company completes the initial Business Combination or is required to be liquidated, as long as any Rights are outstanding, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and right agent acceptable to the Representative. The Underwriters acknowledge and agree that VStock Transfer, LLC is acceptable to the Underwriters.
3.10. Payment of Expenses. The Company will bear all fees, disbursements and expenses in connection with the Offering, including, without limitation: the costs of preparing, printing, mailing and delivering the Registration Statement, the preliminary and final prospectus contained therein and amendments thereto, post-effective amendments and supplements thereto, the Underwriting Agreement and related documents (all in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably require); preparing and printing stock certificates and rights certificates; the costs of any “due diligence” meetings; net roadshow; i-Deal system, filing fees (including SEC filing fees), costs and expenses (including third party expenses and disbursements) incurred in registering the Offering, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fees; preparation of leather bound volumes and Lucite cube mementos in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request; transfer taxes; transfer and warrant agent and registrar fees; and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Representative in connection with its Engagement, including, without limitation, any expenses and fees incurred by Representative’s counsel, expenses incurred for background checks on the Company’s senior management and board of directors to be conducted upon the execution of this engagement letter by a background search firm acceptable to the Representative, subject to a maximum amount of $100,000 (the “Expense Cap”). Additionally, the Company has provided an expense advance (the “Advance”) to the Representative of $50,000. The Advance shall be applied towards the Expense Cap set forth herein and shall be in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A). The Company also agrees to pay the Representative non-accountable expenses (the “NAE”) including, but not limited to, IPREO software related expenses, background check(s), tombstones, marketing related expenses; i.e. roadshow, travel, et al. and any other expenses incurred by the Representative in connection with the transaction, (provided, however, that such reimbursement amount in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement). The total NAE allowance shall be equal to $20,000 and shall be applied towards the Expense Cap set forth herein. If the Company is unable to qualify for listing qualifications on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or Nasdaq Stock Market, all blue-sky work shall be undertaken by counsel of the Representative’s choice.
3.11. Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner substantially consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.12. Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the sixteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.13. Notice to FINRA.
3.13.1. Assistance with Business Combination. For a period of sixty (60) days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged pursuant to a written agreement to assist the Company in its search for a Business Combination candidate or to provide any similar Business Combination-related services, the Company will provide the following information (the “Business Combination Information”) to the Representative: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services (which details or agreements may be appropriately redacted to account for privilege or confidentiality concerns); and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the Business Combination-related services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Conduct Rules. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the proxy statement which the Company will file for purposes of soliciting shareholder approval for the Business Combination. Upon the Company’s delivery of the Business Combination Information to the Representative, the Company hereby expressly authorizes the Representative to provide such information directly to FINRA as a result of representations the Representative have made to FINRA in connection with the Offering.
16
3.13.2. Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify the Representative.
3.14. Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, officers, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
3.15. Internal Controls. From and after the Closing Date, the Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.16. Accountants. For a period commencing on the Effective Date and until such date upon which the Company completes the initial Business Combination or the Trust Account is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain the Accountant or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
3.17. Form 8-Ks. The Company has retained the Accountant to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement. Within four (4) Business Days of the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet. If the Over-Allotment Option has not been exercised on the Effective Date, the Company will also file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information of the Company to reflect the exercise and consummation of the Over-Allotment Option.
3.18. FINRA. Until the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall advise the Representative if it is aware that any 10% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Public Securities.
3.19. Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel for the Underwriters.
3.20. Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as set forth in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.21. Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or denied), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press release or engaging in any other publicity required by law.
17
3.22. Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Ordinary Shares for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.
3.23. Future Financings. The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.
3.24. Nasdaq Maintenance. Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing on Nasdaq of the Units (unless all of the Units have been separated in connection with or prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination), Ordinary Shares and Rights.
3.25. Private Placement Proceeds. On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of proceeds from the Private Placement into the Trust Account, and on the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of proceeds from the additional Private Units sold on the Option Closing Date, in addition to the proceeds from the sale of the Options Units, into the Trust Account, such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.00 per Public Unit sold in the Offering.
3.26. Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable pursuant to the Rights and the Private Securities (as well as any other rights that may be issued and covered by the Rights Agreement) outstanding from time to time.
3.27. Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representative so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representative in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.
3.28. Deferred Underwriting Commission. Upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Company and the Representative shall jointly direct Wilmington Trust, National Association to pay the Representative the Deferred Underwriting Commission out of the funds held in the Trust Account after honoring the redemption rights of the Company’s public shareholders. If the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period as stipulated in the Prospectus (as such time period may be amended), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee of the Trust Account, commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters and itself, agrees that: (i) it shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission, including any accrued interest thereon; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit with the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Shareholders.
18
3.29. Company Lock-up. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Business Combination (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the primary offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, in each case, issued after the completion of the Business Combination; (iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank or (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
3.30. Right of First Refusal. The Company agrees that, with the exception of investors: (i) known to the Company prior to the date hereof (a list of which shall be provided to the Representative. no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Business Combination) or (ii) any investors residing outside of the U.S. (collectively, “Excluded Investors”), for a period of nine (9) months from the closing of the Business Combination, the Company will grant to the Representative an irrevocable right of first refusal to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings, during such nine (9) month period for the Company, or any successor to or any subsidiary of the Company, on terms customary to the Representative. The Representative shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker dealer shall have the right to participate in any such offering and the economic terms of any such participation. The right of first refusal found in this Section 3.30 shall not apply to any transaction with an Excluded Investor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Representative agree that none of the investors listed in Exhibit C shall be considered an Excluded Investor. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the Registration Statement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not retain, engage or solicit any additional investment banker, book-runner, financial advisor, underwriter and/or placement agent in a Subject Transaction without the express written consent of the Representative. The Representative’s failure to exercise its preferential right with respect to any particular proposal shall not affect its preferential rights relative to future proposals.
4. Conditions.
4.1. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:
4.1.1. Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative, and, at the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with.
4.1.1.2. FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.1.3. No Commission Stop Order. At the Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
19
4.1.1.4. Nasdaq Listing. The Ordinary Shares, Units and Rights shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
4.1.2. Counsel Matters.
4.1.2.1. Opinion of Counsel.
(a) On each of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions (along with negative assurance letters) of (i) Loeb & Loeb LLP, U.S. securities counsel to the Company and (ii) Ogier, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Representative.
(b) On each of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions (along with negative assurance letters) of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form agreed to by the Representative.
4.1.2.2. Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdiction having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested.
4.1.3. Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to the Representative from the Accountant dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:
(i) Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act;
(ii) Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;
(iii) Stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and board of directors and the various committees of the board of directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that: (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus; or (b) at a date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, any increase in amount due to the Sponsor or in net current liabilities, or any decrease in the shareholder’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the [February 28, 2025] balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from [February 28, 2025] to a specified date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any changes in revenues, net earnings (losses), or net earnings (losses) per share, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the period from January 13, 2025 (Inception) to [February 28, 2025] included in the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such change, setting forth the amount of such change;
20
(iv) Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and
(v) Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.1.4. Officers’ Certificates.
4.1.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer (in their capacities as such), respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4.1. hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.1.4.2. CEO/CFO’s Certificate. As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying: (i) that the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) all substantive correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) all substantive correspondence between the Company or its counsel and Nasdaq; and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.1.5. No Material Changes. Prior to each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Company Affiliate before or by any court or foreign, federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act against the Company and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and none of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.
21
4.1.6. Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents.
4.1.7. Private Units. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Private Units have been purchased as provided for in the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement and the purchase price for such securities, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and the Registration Statement, shall be deposited into the Trust Account.
5. Indemnification.
5.1. Indemnification of Underwriters.
5.1.1. General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Public Securities (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers, partners and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter or Selected Dealer (“Controlling Person” and together with the Underwriters and Selected Dealers, the “Indemnified Parties” and each, an “Indemnified Party”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other documented expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulations of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus relating to any of the Public Securities; or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5 collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any foreign or state securities commission or agency, Nasdaq (in each case other than statements contained in the section captioned “Selling Restrictions”); or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the proviso contained in the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. With respect to any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter or Selected Dealer to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter or Selected Dealer results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Public Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if such untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
22
5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against an Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such party shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall, upon the Company’s own election, assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Indemnified Party, as applicable) and payment of actual expenses. Such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case if the counsel of the Indemnified Party reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and the Indemnified Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless: (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action; (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action; or (iii) counsel to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Indemnified Parties shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if an Indemnified Party shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
5.2. Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.
5.3. Contribution.
5.3.1. Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5 but is unavailable, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.
23
5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representatives) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“Contributing Party”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representatives of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such Contributing Party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.
6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1. Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2. Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties reasonably satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10 and 5 hereof) or the several non-defaulting Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3. Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1. Additional Shares or Options. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company hereby agrees that until the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Ordinary Shares or any preferred shares which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote on a Business Combination.
24
7.2. Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that, prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Target Business or vendor acknowledge in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read the Prospectus, and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $69,000,000 (or $79,350,000 if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Charter Documents relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company and others concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination, and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (1) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (2) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, respectively.
7.3. Letter Agreements. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Letter Agreements executed between each Company Affiliate and the Representative and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Letter Agreements without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or denied.
7.4. Tender Offer, Proxy and Other Information. To the extent not publicly available, the Company shall provide the Representative with copies of all proxy or tender offer documentation and other information and all related material sent to Public Shareholders in connection with a Business Combination.
7.5. Rule 419. The Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.
7.6. Presentation of Potential Target Businesses. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each of the Respondents to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the Respondents will present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or company, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations the Respondents might have.
7.7. Target Fair Market Value. The Company agrees that the Target Business that it acquires must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any taxes and the Deferred Underwriting Fee) at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business. The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions. The Company is not required to obtain such an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.
25
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any controlling person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the several Underwriters until the earlier of (i) the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and (ii) the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.
9.1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof.
9.2. Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted or, in the Representative’s sole opinion, will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, Nasdaq or on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor trading market) shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the OTC Bulletin Board or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or an increase in existing major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Units, (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities or any other calamity or crisis either within or outside the United States after the date hereof, or any increase in any of the foregoing, as in the Representative’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Firm Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Firm Units.
9.3. Expenses. In accordance with FINRA Rules 5110(g)(5)(B)(i)-(ii), in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever (other than termination for cause due to the Representative’s material failure to provide the underwriting services contemplated hereby), within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.10 hereof.
9.4. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way effected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified mail (with return receipt), delivered by e-mail or by hand or reputable overnight courier, delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF and shall be deemed given when so e-mailed, delivered, or faxed or transmitted (or, if mailed, five days after such mailing):
If to the Representative:
A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners
590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Thomas J. Higgins
Email: thiggins@allianceg.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
One Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attn: Robert Cohen, Esq.
Email: RCohen@mwe.com
26
If to the Company, to:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: William Rosenstadt, Chief Executive Officer
Email: wsr@orllp.legal
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Giovanni Caruso, Esq
Email: gcaruso@loeb.com
10.2. Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
10.3. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
10.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.5. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained.
10.6. Governing Law, Venue, etc.
10.6.1. 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 the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Company and the Representative hereby agrees that any action, proceeding, or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, New York County under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as applicable, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each of the Company and the Representative hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Representative, respectively, may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company or the Representative, respectively, in any action, proceeding, or claim.
10.6.2. THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.
27
10.6.3. Each of the Company and the Representative agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.
10.7. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by fax or email/.pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
10.8. Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
10.9. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Public Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Public Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Public Securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
[Signature Page Follows]
28
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Representative and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
| Very Truly Yours, | ||
| Blueport Acquisition Ltd | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Agreed to and accepted
as of the date first written
above:
A.G.P./ALLIANCE GLOBAL PARTNERS
as Representative of the several Underwriters
| By: | ||
| Name: | Thomas J. Higgins | |
| Title: | Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
6,900,000 Units
| Underwriter | Number of Firm Units to be Purchased | |||
| A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners | [●] | |||
| [●] | [●] | |||
| TOTAL | 6,900,000 | |||
SCHEDULE B
Testing-the-Waters Communications
None.
EXHIBIT A
Form of Target Business Letter
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”), dated [●], 2025 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $69,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a business combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
| Print Name of Target Business | |
| Authorized Signature of Target Business |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Vendor Letter
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”), dated [●], 2025 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $69,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
| Print Name of Vendor | |
| Authorized Signature of Vendor |
EXHIBIT C
Excluded Investors
[●]
Exhibit 3.1
Dated 13 January 2025
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
CONTENTS
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A | 1 |
| Definitions | 1 | |
| Interpretation | 2 | |
| Exclusion of Table A Articles | 3 | |
| 2 | Shares | 3 |
| Class A Ordinary Shares | 4 | |
| Class B Ordinary Shares | 4 | |
| Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights | 4 | |
| Power to issue fractions of a Share | 4 | |
| Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees | 5 | |
| Trusts not recognised | 5 | |
| Power to vary class rights | 5 | |
| Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights | 5 | |
| Capital contributions without issue of further Shares | 6 | |
| No bearer Shares or warrants | 6 | |
| Treasury Shares | 6 | |
| Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters | 6 | |
| 3 | Share certificates | 7 |
| Issue of share certificates | 7 | |
| Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates | 7 | |
| 4 | Lien on Shares | 7 |
| Nature and scope of lien | 7 | |
| Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien | 8 | |
| Authority to execute instrument of transfer | 8 | |
| Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien | 8 | |
| Application of proceeds of sale | 9 | |
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture | 9 |
| Power to make calls and effect of calls | 9 | |
| Time when call made | 9 | |
| Liability of joint holders | 9 | |
| Interest on unpaid calls | 9 | |
| Deemed calls | 10 | |
| Power to accept early payment | 10 | |
| Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares | 10 | |
| Notice of default | 10 | |
| Forfeiture or surrender of Shares | 10 | |
| Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender | 10 | |
| Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member | 11 | |
| Evidence of forfeiture or surrender | 11 | |
| Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares | 11 | |
| 6 | Transfer of Shares | 12 |
| Form of transfer | 12 | |
| Power to refuse registration | 12 | |
| Notice of refusal to register | 12 | |
| Power to suspend registration | 12 | |
| Fee, if any, payable for registration | 12 | |
| Company may retain instrument of transfer | 12 | |
| 7 | Transmission of Shares | 12 |
| Persons entitled on death of a Member | 12 | |
| Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy | 13 | |
| Indemnity | 13 | |
| Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy | 13 | |
| 8 | Alteration of capital | 13 |
| Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital | 13 | |
| Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares | 14 | |
| Reducing share capital | 14 | |
| 9 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares | 14 |
| Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares | 14 | |
| Repurchase of subscriber Share | 15 | |
| Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie | 15 | |
| Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share | 15 | |
| 10 | Meetings of Members | 15 |
| Power to call meetings | 15 | |
| Content of notice | 16 | |
| Period of notice | 17 | |
| Persons entitled to receive notice | 17 | |
| Publication of notice on a website | 17 | |
| Time a website notice is deemed to be given | 17 | |
| Required duration of publication on a website | 17 | |
| Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice | 17 | |
| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members | 18 |
| Quorum | 18 | |
| Lack of quorum | 18 | |
| Use of technology | 18 | |
| Chairman | 18 | |
| Right of a director to attend and speak | 19 | |
| Adjournment | 19 | |
| Method of voting | 19 | |
| Outcome of vote by show of hands | 19 | |
| Withdrawal of demand for a poll | 19 | |
| Taking of a poll | 19 | |
| Chairman’s casting vote | 20 | |
| Amendments to resolutions | 20 | |
| Written resolutions | 20 | |
| Sole-member company | 21 | |
| 12 | Voting rights of Members | 21 |
| Right to vote | 21 | |
| Rights of joint holders | 21 | |
| Representation of corporate Members | 21 | |
| Member with mental disorder | 22 | |
| Objections to admissibility of votes | 22 | |
| Form of proxy | 22 | |
| How and when proxy is to be delivered | 23 | |
| Voting by proxy | 24 | |
| 13 | Number of directors | 24 |
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors | 24 |
| First directors | 24 | |
| No age limit | 24 | |
| Corporate directors | 24 | |
| No shareholding qualification | 24 | |
| Appointment of directors | 24 | |
| Removal of directors | 25 | |
| Resignation of directors | 25 | |
| Termination of the office of director | 25 | |
| 15 | Alternate directors | 26 |
| Appointment and removal | 26 | |
| Notices | 26 | |
| Rights of alternate director | 27 | |
| Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director | 27 | |
| Status of alternate director | 27 | |
| Status of the director making the appointment | 27 | |
| 16 | Powers of directors | 27 |
| Powers of directors | 27 | |
| Appointments to office | 28 | |
| Remuneration | 28 | |
| Disclosure of information | 29 | |
| 17 | Delegation of powers | 29 |
| Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee | 29 | |
| Power to appoint an agent of the Company | 29 | |
| Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company | 29 | |
| Power to appoint a proxy | 30 | |
| 18 | Meetings of directors | 30 |
| Regulation of directors’ meetings | 30 | |
| Calling meetings | 30 | |
| Notice of meetings | 30 | |
| Period of notice | 30 | |
| Use of technology | 31 | |
| Place of meetings | 31 | |
| Quorum | 31 | |
| Voting | 31 | |
| Validity | 31 | |
| Recording of dissent | 31 | |
| Written resolutions | 31 | |
| Sole director’s minute | 32 | |
| 19 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure | 32 |
| Permissible interests subject to disclosure | 32 | |
| Notification of interests | 32 | |
| Voting where a director is interested in a matter | 33 | |
| 20 | Minutes | 33 |
| 21 | Accounts and audit | 33 |
| Accounting and other records | 33 | |
| No automatic right of inspection | 33 | |
| Sending of accounts and reports | 33 | |
| Time of receipt if documents are published on a website | 34 | |
| Validity despite accidental error in publication on website | 34 | |
| When accounts are to be audited | 34 | |
| 22 | Financial year | 34 |
| 23 | Record dates | 34 |
| 24 | Dividends | 35 |
| Declaration of dividends by Members | 35 | |
| Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors | 35 | |
| Apportionment of dividends | 35 | |
| Right of set off | 36 | |
| Power to pay other than in cash | 36 | |
| How payments may be made | 36 | |
| Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights | 37 | |
| Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed | 37 | |
| 25 | Capitalisation of profits | 37 |
| Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve | 37 | |
| Applying an amount for the benefit of members | 37 | |
| 26 | Share premium account | 38 |
| Directors to maintain share premium account | 38 | |
| Debits to share premium account | 38 | |
| 27 | Seal | 38 |
| Company seal | 38 | |
| Duplicate seal | 38 | |
| When and how seal is to be used | 38 | |
| If no seal is adopted or used | 38 | |
| Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal | 39 | |
| Validity of execution | 39 | |
| 28 | Indemnity | 39 |
| Indemnity | 39 | |
| Release | 40 | |
| Insurance | 40 | |
| 29 | Notices | 40 |
| Form of notices | 40 | |
| Electronic communications | 40 | |
| Persons authorised to give notices | 41 | |
| Delivery of written notices | 41 | |
| Joint holders | 41 | |
| Signatures | 41 | |
| Evidence of transmission | 41 | |
| Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member | 41 | |
| Date of giving notices | 42 | |
| Saving provision | 42 | |
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records | 43 |
| Application of Articles | 43 | |
| Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means | 43 | |
| Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means | 43 | |
| Manner of signing | 44 | |
| Saving provision | 44 | |
| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation | 44 |
| 32 | Winding up | 44 |
| Distribution of assets in specie | 44 | |
| No obligation to accept liability | 45 | |
| The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition | 45 | |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles | 45 |
| Power to change name or amend Memorandum | 45 | |
| Power to amend these Articles | 45 | |
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Articles of Association
of
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
Definitions
| 1.1 | In these Articles, the following definitions apply: |
Act means the Companies Act (Revised).
Articles means, as appropriate:
| (a) | these Articles of Association as amended from time to time: or |
| (b) | two or more particular Articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.
Business Day means a day other than a public holiday in the place where the Company’s registered office is located, a Saturday or a Sunday.
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
| (a) | the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
| (b) | the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
Class A Ordinary Share means the class A ordinary shares of US$0.0001 par value each of the Company, which have the rights set forth in these Articles;
Class B Ordinary Share means the class B ordinary shares of US$0.0001 par value each of the Company, which have the rights set forth in these Articles;
Company means the above-named company.
Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).
Electronic Record 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).
1
Fully Paid and Paid Up:
| (a) | in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
| (b) | in 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 money or money’s worth. |
Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.
Member means any person or persons entered on the register of members from time to time as the holder of a Share.
Memorandum means the Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended from time to time.
Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator, but does not include the Secretary.
Ordinary Resolution 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. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.
Share means a share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:
| (a) | includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); |
| (b) | a Class A Ordinary Share, unless the context provides otherwise; |
| (c) | a Class B Ordinary Share, unless the context provides otherwise; and |
| (d) | where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share. |
Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.
Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 2.12.
Interpretation
| 1.2 | In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires: |
| (a) | A 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 statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and |
2
| (ii) | any 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.
| (b) | Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity. |
| (c) | If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day. |
| (d) | A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders. |
| (e) | A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency. |
| (f) | Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
| (g) | All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located. |
| (h) | The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied. |
| (i) | The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation. |
Exclusion of Table A Articles
| 1.3 | The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company. |
| 2 | Shares |
| 2.1 | The authorised share capital of the Company is 450,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of par value USD0.0001 each and 50,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of par value USD0.0001 each. |
| 2.2 | Subject to these Articles, all shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may issue, allot and dispose of or grant options over the same to such persons, on such terms and in such manner as they may think fit. |
| 2.3 | The Directors may refuse to accept any application for shares and may accept any application in whole or in part. |
3
Class A Ordinary Shares
| 2.4 | Class A Ordinary Shares: |
| (a) | shall have the right to receive notice of, attend at and, subject to these Articles, vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company; |
| (b) | be redeemable by the Company only; |
| (c) | be entitled to any dividends declared by the Company; and |
| (d) | confer upon the holders thereof rights in a winding up. |
Class B Ordinary Shares
| 2.5 | Class B Ordinary Shares: |
| (a) | shall have the right to receive notice of, attend at and, subject to these Articles, vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company; |
| (b) | be redeemable by the Company only; |
| (c) | be entitled to any dividends declared by the Company; and |
| (d) | confer upon the holders thereof rights in a winding up. |
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
| 2.6 | Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Company’s own Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act. |
| 2.7 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company: |
| (a) | either at a premium or at par; |
| (b) | with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. |
Power to issue fractions of a Share
| 2.8 | Subject to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares. |
4
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
| 2.9 | The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
| (a) | subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
| (b) | procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional |
for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
| 2.10 | The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage. |
Trusts not recognised
| 2.11 | Except as required by law: |
| (a) | no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and |
| (b) | no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Power to vary class rights
| 2.12 | If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies: |
| (a) | the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
| (b) | the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
| 2.13 | For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that: |
| (a) | the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
| (b) | any 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 representative, may demand a poll. |
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
| 2.14 | Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class. |
5
Capital contributions without issue of further Shares
| 2.15 | With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner: |
| (a) | It shall be treated as if it were a share premium. |
| (b) | Unless the Member agrees otherwise: |
| (i) | if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares - it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares; |
| (ii) | if the Member holds Shares of more than one class - it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds). |
| (c) | It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums. |
No bearer Shares or warrants
| 2.16 | The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers. |
Treasury Shares
| 2.17 | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if: |
| (a) | the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
| (b) | the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with. |
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
| 2.18 | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
| 2.19 | The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; |
| (b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act. |
6
| 2.20 | Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 2.21 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine. |
| 3 | Share certificates |
Issue of share certificates
| 3.1 | Upon being entered in the register of members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled: |
| (a) | without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
| (b) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
| 3.2 | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine. |
| 3.3 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
| 3.4 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
| (a) | evidence; |
| (b) | indemnity; |
| (c) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
| (d) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate |
as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
| 4 | Lien on Shares |
Nature and scope of lien
| 4.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
| (a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
| (b) | whether or not those moneys are presently payable. |
7
| 4.2 | At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.3 | The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
| (b) | the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
| (c) | that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles. |
| 4.4 | The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine. |
| 4.5 | To the maximum extent permitted by law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
| 4.6 | To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.7 | On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that 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.
8
Application of proceeds of sale
| 4.8 | The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold: |
| (a) | if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
| (b) | if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation |
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
Power to make calls and effect of calls
| 5.1 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice. |
| 5.2 | Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part. |
| 5.3 | A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. |
Time when call made
| 5.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed. |
Liability of joint holders
| 5.5 | Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
Interest on unpaid calls
| 5.6 | If 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 unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
| (a) | at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
| (b) | if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
9
The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
| 5.7 | Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
Power to accept early payment
| 5.8 | The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up. |
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
| 5.9 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
Notice of default
| 5.10 | If 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 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
| (a) | the amount unpaid; |
| (b) | any interest which may have accrued; |
| (c) | any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
| 5.11 | The notice shall state the following: |
| (a) | the place where payment is to be made; and |
| (b) | a 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. |
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
| 5.12 | If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
| 5.13 | A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee. |
10
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
| 5.14 | On forfeiture or surrender: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares. |
| 5.15 | Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
| (a) | all expenses; and |
| (b) | interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
| (i) | at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or |
| (ii) | if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
| 5.16 | A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
| (a) | that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and |
| (b) | that 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.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
| 5.17 | Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
11
| 6 | Transfer of Shares |
Form of transfer
| 6.1 | Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer, in a common form or in a form approved by the directors, executed: |
| (a) | where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and |
| (b) | where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee. |
Power to refuse registration
| 6.2 | The directors may refuse to register the transfer of a Share to any person. They may do so in their absolute discretion, without giving any reason for their refusal, and irrespective of whether the Share is Fully Paid or the Company has no lien over it. |
Notice of refusal to register
| 6.3 | If the directors refuse to register a transfer of a Share, they must send notice of their refusal to the existing Member within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company. |
Power to suspend registration
| 6.4 | The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine. |
Fee, if any, payable for registration
| 6.5 | If the directors so decide, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a Share. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer
| 6.6 | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
| 7 | Transmission of Shares |
Persons entitled on death of a Member
| 7.1 | If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following: |
| (a) | where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
| (b) | where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
12
| 7.2 | Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following: |
| (a) | to become the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | to transfer the Share to another person. |
| 7.4 | That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require. |
| 7.5 | If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer. |
| 7.6 | If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
| (a) | if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
| (b) | if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
| 7.7 | All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
| 7.8 | A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration. |
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.9 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company. |
| 8 | Alteration of capital |
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
| 8.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
13
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | sub-divide 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, 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 the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
| (e) | cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
| 8.2 | Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members: |
| (a) | sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and |
| (b) | distribute 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.
Reducing share capital
| 8.3 | Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way. |
| 9 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
| 9.1 | Subject to the Act, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its directors: |
| (a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares; |
| (b) | with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
14
| (c) | purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and 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.
Repurchase of subscriber Share
| 9.2 | Unless the directors determine otherwise, as soon as the directors determine that it is lawful for the Company to do so, the Company shall purchase from the subscriber to the Memorandum the one Share agreed to be taken by such subscriber. Such Share shall be repurchased for cash at its par value and the Company may make a payment out of capital in respect of such purchase price. |
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
| 9.3 | When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
| 9.4 | Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
| (a) | the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive: |
| (i) | the price for the Share; and |
| (ii) | any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
| (b) | the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of members with respect to the Share; and |
| (c) | the 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.
| 10 | Meetings of Members |
Power to call meetings
| 10.1 | The directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
15
| 10.2 | If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors. |
| 10.3 | The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
| 10.4 | The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting. |
| 10.5 | The requisition must also: |
| (a) | specify the purpose of the meeting. |
| (b) | be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners. |
| (c) | be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
| 10.6 | Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period. |
| 10.7 | Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors. |
| 10.8 | If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses. |
Content of notice
| 10.9 | Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
| (a) | the place, the date and the hour of the meeting; |
| (b) | if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; |
| (c) | subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
| (d) | if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
| 10.10 | In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
| (a) | that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
| (b) | that a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
16
Period of notice
| 10.11 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting. |
Persons entitled to receive notice
| 10.12 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people: |
| (a) | the Members; |
| (b) | persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and |
| (c) | the directors. |
Publication of notice on a website
| 10.13 | Subject to the Act, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of: |
| (a) | the publication of the notice on the website; |
| (b) | the place on the website where the notice may be accessed; |
| (c) | how it may be accessed; and |
| (d) | the place, date and time of the general meeting. |
| 10.14 | If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. But this will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting. |
Time a website notice is deemed to be given
| 10.15 | A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication. |
Required duration of publication on a website
| 10.16 | Where 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 of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
| 10.17 | Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
| (a) | an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
| (b) | non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
17
| 10.18 | In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published: |
| (a) | in a different place on the website; or |
| (b) | for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
Quorum
| 11.1 | Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows: |
| (a) | if the Company has only one Member: that Member; |
| (b) | if the Company has more than one Member: two Members. |
Lack of quorum
| 11.2 | If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
| (a) | If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled. |
| (b) | In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum. |
Use of technology
| 11.3 | A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Chairman
| 11.4 | The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting. |
| 11.5 | If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
18
Right of a director to attend and speak
| 11.6 | Even 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 holding a particular class of Shares in the Company. |
Adjournment
| 11.7 | The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
| 11.8 | Should a meeting be adjourned for more than seven Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
Method of voting
| 11.9 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. A poll may be demanded: |
| (a) | by the chairman; or |
| (b) | by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least 10% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution. |
Outcome of vote by show of hands
| 11.10 | Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution. |
Withdrawal of demand for a poll
| 11.11 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting. |
Taking of a poll
| 11.12 | A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
| 11.13 | A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
| 11.14 | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
19
| 11.15 | A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur. |
Chairman’s casting vote
| 11.16 | If the votes on a resolution, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, are equal the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote. |
Amendments to resolutions
| 11.17 | An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if: |
| (a) | not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment 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 reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution. |
| 11.18 | A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if: |
| (a) | the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and |
| (b) | the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution. |
| 11.19 | If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution. |
Written resolutions
| 11.20 | Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
| (b) | all Members entitled so to vote: |
| (i) | sign a document; or |
| (ii) | sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (c) | the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. |
20
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.
| 11.21 | If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
| 11.22 | The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll. |
Sole-member company
| 11.23 | If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
| 12 | Voting rights of Members |
Right to vote
| 12.1 | Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
| 12.2 | Members may vote in person or by proxy. |
| 12.3 | On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member. |
| 12.4 | On a poll a Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
| 12.5 | A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote. |
| 12.6 | No 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. |
Rights of joint holders
| 12.7 | If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
Representation of corporate Members
| 12.8 | Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
21
| 12.9 | A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
| 12.10 | The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
| 12.11 | The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice. |
| 12.12 | Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
| 12.13 | A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
Member with mental disorder
| 12.14 | A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
| 12.15 | For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
Objections to admissibility of votes
| 12.16 | An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
Form of proxy
| 12.17 | An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors. |
| 12.18 | The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by the Member; or |
| (b) | by the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
| (c) | if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised 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 the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
22
| 12.19 | The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy. |
| 12.20 | A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
How and when proxy is to be delivered
| 12.21 | Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company at any time before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways: |
| (a) | In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
| (i) | to the registered office of the Company; or |
| (ii) | to such other place within the Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (b) | If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
| (i) | in the notice convening the meeting; or |
| (ii) | in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
| (iii) | in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| 12.22 | Where a poll is taken: |
| (a) | if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; |
| (b) | but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. |
| 12.23 | If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
23
Voting by proxy
| 12.24 | A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid. |
| 13 | Number of directors |
Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum number shall be ten. There shall be no directors, however, until the first director is or the first directors are appointed by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum.
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors |
First directors
| 14.1 | The first directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum. |
No age limit
| 14.2 | There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years. |
Corporate directors
| 14.3 | Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about directors’ meetings. |
No shareholding qualification
| 14.4 | Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment. |
Appointment of directors
| 14.5 | A director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director. |
| 14.6 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person 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 shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder; |
| (b) | if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise): |
| (i) | the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means: |
24
| (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. |
| 14.7 | A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors. |
| 14.8 | No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
Removal of directors
| 14.9 | A director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Resignation of directors
| 14.10 | A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions. |
| 14.11 | Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company. |
Termination of the office of director
| 14.12 | A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
| (a) | he is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or |
| (b) | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (c) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or |
| (d) | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or |
| (e) | without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months. |
25
| 15 | Alternate directors |
Appointment and removal
| 15.1 | Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 15.4(c)). |
| 15.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 15.4. |
| 15.3 | A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 15.1. |
| 15.4 | A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine; |
| (c) | if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or |
| (d) | if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing. |
Notices
| 15.5 | All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate. |
26
Rights of alternate director
| 15.6 | An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence. |
| 15.7 | For the avoidance of doubt: |
| (a) | if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and |
| (b) | if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate. |
| 15.8 | An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director. |
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director
| 15.9 | An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director. |
Status of alternate director
| 15.10 | An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment. |
| 15.11 | Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles. |
| 15.12 | An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him. |
| 15.13 | An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director. |
Status of the director making the appointment
| 15.14 | A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company. |
| 16 | Powers of directors |
Powers of directors
| 16.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
| 16.2 | No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
27
Appointments to office
| 16.3 | The directors may appoint a director: |
| (a) | as chairman of the board of directors; |
| (b) | as managing director; |
| (c) | to any other executive office |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.
| 16.4 | The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.5 | Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors. |
| 16.6 | If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available. |
| 16.7 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director: |
| (a) | as Secretary; and |
| (b) | to any office that may be required |
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.
| 16.8 | The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.9 | A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor. |
Remuneration
| 16.10 | Every director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at directors’ meetings. |
| 16.11 | A director’s remuneration shall be fixed by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. Unless that resolution provides otherwise, the remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. |
| 16.12 | Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him. |
| 16.13 | Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
28
Disclosure of information
| 16.14 | The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if: |
| (a) | the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or |
| (b) | such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or |
| (c) | such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
| (d) | the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
| 17 | Delegation of powers |
Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee
| 17.1 | The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors. |
| 17.2 | The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers. |
| 17.3 | The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will. |
| 17.4 | Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors. |
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
| 17.5 | The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment: |
| (a) | by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
| (b) | in any other manner they determine. |
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
| 17.6 | The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
| (a) | for any purpose; |
29
| (b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions; |
| (c) | for the period; and |
| (d) | subject 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.
| 17.7 | Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person. |
Power to appoint a proxy
| 17.8 | Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director. |
| 17.9 | Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors. |
| 17.10 | A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an officer of the Company. |
| 18 | Meetings of directors |
Regulation of directors’ meetings
| 18.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
Calling meetings
| 18.2 | Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director. |
Notice of meetings
| 18.3 | Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. |
Period of notice
| 18.4 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors. |
30
Use of technology
| 18.5 | A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
| 18.6 | A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Place of meetings
| 18.7 | If 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 place wherever any of them is. |
Quorum
| 18.8 | The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director. |
Voting
| 18.9 | A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote. |
Validity
| 18.10 | Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote. |
Recording of dissent
| 18.11 | A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless: |
| (a) | his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
| (b) | he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
| (c) | he 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.
Written resolutions
| 18.12 | The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors. |
| 18.13 | Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. But if a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy. |
31
| 18.14 | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs. |
Sole director’s minute
| 18.15 | Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms. |
| 19 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure |
Permissible interests subject to disclosure
| 19.1 | Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company. |
| 19.2 | If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may: |
| (a) | be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; |
| (b) | be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate. |
| 19.3 | Such disclosure may be made at a meeting at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest. |
| 19.4 | If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. |
Notification of interests
| 19.5 | For the purposes of the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and |
| (b) | an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his. |
32
| 19.6 | A director shall not be treated as having an interest in a transaction or arrangement if he has no knowledge of that interest and it is unreasonable to expect the director to have that knowledge. |
Voting where a director is interested in a matter
| 19.7 | A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted. |
| 19.8 | Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment. |
| 20 | Minutes |
The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.
| 21 | Accounts and audit |
Accounting and other records
| 21.1 | The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act. |
No automatic right of inspection
| 21.2 | Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Sending of accounts and reports
| 21.3 | The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if: |
| (a) | they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or |
| (b) | they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of: |
| (i) | the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website; |
| (ii) | the address of the website; and |
| (iii) | the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and |
| (iv) | how they may be accessed. |
33
| 21.4 | If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article. |
Time of receipt if documents are published on a website
| 21.5 | Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if: |
| (a) | the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and |
| (b) | the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing. |
Validity despite accidental error in publication on website
| 21.6 | If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because: |
| (a) | those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or |
| (b) | they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting. |
When accounts are to be audited
| 21.7 | Unless the directors or the Members, by Ordinary Resolution, so resolve or unless the Act so requires, the Company’s accounts will not be audited. If the Members so resolve, the Company’s accounts shall be audited in the manner determined by Ordinary Resolution. Alternatively, if the directors so resolve, they shall be audited in the manner they determine. |
| 22 | Financial year |
Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:
| (a) | shall end on 31 December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and |
| (b) | shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year. |
| 23 | 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 declaring or paying a dividend or making or issuing an allotment of Shares. The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.
34
| 24 | Dividends |
Declaration of dividends by Members
| 24.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors
| 24.2 | The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
| 24.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
| (a) | Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made. |
| (b) | Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately 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.
| 24.4 | In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: |
| (a) | If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears. |
| (b) | The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment. |
| (c) | If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Apportionment of dividends
| 24.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
35
Right of set off
| 24.6 | The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
Power to pay other than in cash
| 24.7 | If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | issue fractional Shares; |
| (b) | fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
| (c) | vest some assets in trustees. |
How payments may be made
| 24.8 | A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
| (a) | if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or |
| (b) | by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share. |
| 24.9 | For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
| 24.10 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
| (a) | to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
| (b) | to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record. |
| 24.11 | Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share. |
36
Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights
| 24.12 | Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest. |
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
| 24.13 | If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
| 24.14 | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
| 25 | Capitalisation of profits |
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve
| 25.1 | The directors may resolve to capitalise: |
| (a) | any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or |
| (b) | any 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 paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; |
| (b) | by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid. |
Applying an amount for the benefit of members
| 25.2 | The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
| 25.3 | Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
37
| 26 | Share premium account |
Directors to maintain share premium account
| 26.1 | The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act. |
Debits to share premium account
| 26.2 | The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
| (a) | on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and |
| (b) | any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act. |
| 26.3 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital. |
| 27 | Seal |
Company seal
| 27.1 | The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine. |
Duplicate seal
| 27.2 | Subject 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. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
When and how seal is to be used
| 27.3 | A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate). |
If no seal is adopted or used
| 27.4 | If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate); or |
| (c) | in any other manner permitted by the Act. |
38
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
| 27.5 | The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
| (a) | that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; |
| (b) | that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
Validity of execution
| 27.6 | If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company. |
| 28 | Indemnity |
Indemnity
| 28.1 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: |
| (a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
| (b) | without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
| 28.2 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs. |
39
Release
| 28.3 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty. |
Insurance
| 28.4 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
| (a) | an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
| (i) | the Company; |
| (ii) | a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; |
| (iii) | a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
| (b) | a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested. |
| 29 | Notices |
Form of notices
| 29.1 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be: |
| (a) | in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
| (b) | subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
| (c) | where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
Electronic communications
| 29.2 | Without limitation to Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 17.8 to 17.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
| (a) | the directors so resolve; |
| (b) | the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and |
| (c) | the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed. |
40
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
| 29.3 | A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
Persons authorised to give notices
| 29.4 | A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
Delivery of written notices
| 29.5 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
Joint holders
| 29.6 | Where 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
| 29.7 | A 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 execution or adoption by the giver. |
| 29.8 | An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
Evidence of transmission
| 29.9 | A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
| 29.10 | A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient. |
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
| 29.11 | A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled. |
| 29.12 | Until 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 had not occurred. |
41
Date of giving notices
| 29.13 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following table. |
| Method for giving notices | When taken to be given |
| Personally | At the time and date of delivery |
| By leaving it at the member’s registered address | At the time and date it was left |
| If the recipient has an address within the Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient | 48 hours after it was posted |
| If the recipient has an address outside the Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient | 7 Clear Days after posting |
| By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | Within 24 hours after it was sent |
| By publication on a website | See the Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website |
Saving provision
| 29.14 | None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members. |
42
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records |
Application of Articles
| 30.1 | Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 30.2 or Article 30.4 applies. |
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
| 30.2 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 does not apply. |
| 30.3 | For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 30.7 applies. |
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
| 30.4 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 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.
| 30.5 | For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 30.7 applies. |
43
Manner of signing
| 30.6 | For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
Saving provision
| 30.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
| (a) | believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or |
| (b) | believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or |
| (c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document |
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation |
| 31.1 | The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside: |
| (a) | the Islands; or |
| (b) | such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
| 31.2 | To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following: |
| (a) | an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and |
| (b) | all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
| 32 | Winding up |
Distribution of assets in specie
| 32.1 | If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
| (a) | to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; |
| (b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
44
No obligation to accept liability
| 32.2 | No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
| 32.3 | The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
| 33.1 | Subject to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; or |
| (b) | change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum. |
Power to amend these Articles
| 33.2 | Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
45
Dated 13 January 2025
|
Name and address of Subscriber |
Number of shares taken |
Signature |
|
Ogier Global Subscriber (Cayman)
Limited |
1 Class A Ordinary Share |
per: /s/ Mark Drummond Name: Mark Drummond Authorised Signatory |
| Witness to above signature |
/s/ Chelsea Ebanks Name: Chelsea Ebanks
Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited | |
46
Exhibit 3.2
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
Memorandum AND ARTICLEs of association
of
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
(Conditionally adopted by special resolution passed on [date] 2025 and with effect immediately prior to the listing of the securities of the Company on the Nasdaq Capital Market)
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated
Memorandum of Association
of
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
(Conditionally adopted by special resolution passed on [date] 2025 and with effect immediately prior to the listing of the securities of the Company on the Nasdaq Capital Market)
| 1 | The name of the Company is Blueport Acquisition Ltd. |
| 2 | The Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide. |
| 3 | The Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit. |
| 5 | Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely: |
| (a) | the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or |
| (b) | insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised);or |
| (c) | the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised). |
| 6 | Unless licensed to do so, the Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7 | The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares. |
| 8 | The share capital of the Company is USD50,000 divided into 450,000,000 Class A Shares of par value USD0.0001 each and 50,000,000 Class B Shares of par value USD0.0001 each. Subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; |
| (b) | to increase or reduce its capital; |
| (c) | to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject to any limitations or restrictions |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or
| (d) | to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 9 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
CONTENTS
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A | 1 |
| Definitions | 1 | |
| Interpretation | 5 | |
| Exclusion of Table A Articles | 5 | |
| 2 | Shares | 6 |
| Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights | 6 | |
| Power to issue fractions of a Share | 7 | |
| Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees | 7 | |
| Trusts not recognised | 7 | |
| Power to vary class rights | 7 | |
| Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights | 8 | |
| Capital contributions without issue of further Shares | 8 | |
| No bearer Shares or warrants | 9 | |
| Treasury Shares | 9 | |
| Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters | 9 | |
| 3 | Register of Members | 9 |
| 4 | Share certificates | 10 |
| Issue of share certificates | 10 | |
| Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates | 10 | |
| 5 | Lien on Shares | 10 |
| Nature and scope of lien | 10 | |
| Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien | 11 | |
| Authority to execute instrument of transfer | 11 | |
| Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien | 11 | |
| Application of proceeds of sale | 12 |
1
| 6 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture | 12 |
| Power to make calls and effect of calls | 12 | |
| Time when call made | 12 | |
| Liability of joint holders | 12 | |
| Interest on unpaid calls | 12 | |
| Deemed calls | 13 | |
| Power to accept early payment | 13 | |
| Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares | 13 | |
| Notice of default | 13 | |
| Forfeiture or surrender of Shares | 13 | |
| Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender | 14 | |
| Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member | 14 | |
| Evidence of forfeiture or surrender | 14 | |
| Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares | 14 | |
| 7 | Transfer of Shares | 15 |
| Form of transfer | 15 | |
| Power to refuse registration | 15 | |
| Power to suspend registration | 15 | |
| Company may retain instrument of transfer | 15 | |
| 8 | Transmission of Shares | 15 |
| Persons entitled on death of a Member | 15 | |
| Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy | 16 | |
| Indemnity | 16 | |
| Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy | 16 | |
| 9 | Alteration of capital | 16 |
| Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital | 16 | |
| Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares | 17 | |
| Reducing share capital | 17 |
2
| 10 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares | 17 |
| Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares | 17 | |
| Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie | 18 | |
| Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share | 18 | |
| 11 | Meetings of Members | 19 |
| Power to call meetings | 19 | |
| Content of notice | 20 | |
| Period of notice | 20 | |
| Persons entitled to receive notice | 20 | |
| Publication of notice on a website | 21 | |
| Time a website notice is deemed to be given | 21 | |
| Required duration of publication on a website | 21 | |
| Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice | 21 | |
| 12 | Proceedings at meetings of Members | 21 |
| Quorum | 21 | |
| Lack of quorum | 22 | |
| Use of technology | 22 | |
| Chairman | 22 | |
| Right of a director to attend and speak | 22 | |
| Adjournment | 22 | |
| Method of voting | 22 | |
| Taking of a poll | 23 | |
| Chairman’s casting vote | 23 | |
| Amendments to resolutions | 23 | |
| Written resolutions | 23 | |
| Sole-member company | 24 |
| 13 | Voting rights of Members | 24 |
| Right to vote | 24 | |
| Rights of joint holders | 24 | |
| Representation of corporate Members | 25 | |
| Member with mental disorder | 25 | |
| Objections to admissibility of votes | 25 | |
| Form of proxy | 26 | |
| How and when proxy is to be delivered | 26 | |
| Voting by proxy | 27 | |
| 14 | Number of directors | 27 |
| 15 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors | 27 |
| No age limit | 27 | |
| Corporate directors | 27 | |
| No shareholding qualification | 27 | |
| Appointment and removal of directors | 27 | |
| Resignation of directors | 29 | |
| Termination of the office of director | 29 | |
| 16 | Alternate directors | 30 |
| Appointment and removal | 30 | |
| Notices | 31 | |
| Rights of alternate director | 31 | |
| Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director | 31 | |
| Status of alternate director | 31 | |
| Status of the director making the appointment | 32 | |
| 17 | Powers of directors | 32 |
| Powers of directors | 32 | |
| Appointments to office | 32 |
3
| Remuneration | 33 | |
| Disclosure of information | 33 | |
| 18 | Delegation of powers | 33 |
| Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee | 33 | |
| Power to appoint an agent of the Company | 34 | |
| Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company | 34 | |
| Power to appoint a proxy | 34 | |
| 19 | Meetings of directors | 34 |
| Regulation of directors’ meetings | 34 | |
| Calling meetings | 35 | |
| Notice of meetings | 35 | |
| Period of notice | 35 | |
| Use of technology | 35 | |
| Place of meetings | 35 | |
| Quorum | 35 | |
| Voting | 35 | |
| Validity | 35 | |
| Recording of dissent | 35 | |
| Written resolutions | 36 | |
| Sole director’s minute | 36 | |
| 20 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure | 36 |
| Permissible interests subject to disclosure | 36 | |
| Notification of interests | 37 | |
| Voting where a director is interested in a matter | 37 | |
| 21 | Minutes | 37 |
| 22 | Accounts and audit | 37 |
| Accounting and other records | 37 |
4
| No automatic right of inspection | 37 | |
| Sending of accounts and reports | 37 | |
| Time of receipt if documents are published on a website | 38 | |
| Validity despite accidental error in publication on website | 38 | |
| Audit | 38 | |
| 23 | Financial year | 39 |
| 24 | Record dates | 39 |
| 25 | Dividends | 40 |
| Declaration of dividends by Members | 40 | |
| Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors | 40 | |
| Apportionment of dividends | 40 | |
| Right of set off | 41 | |
| Power to pay other than in cash | 41 | |
| How payments may be made | 41 | |
| Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights | 42 | |
| Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed | 42 | |
| 26 | Capitalisation of profits | 42 |
| Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve | 42 | |
| Applying an amount for the benefit of members | 42 | |
| 27 | Share premium account | 43 |
| Directors to maintain share premium account | 43 | |
| Debits to share premium account | 43 | |
| 28 | Seal | 43 |
| Company seal | 43 | |
| Duplicate seal | 43 |
| When and how seal is to be used | 43 | |
| If no seal is adopted or used | 43 | |
| Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal | 44 | |
| Validity of execution | 44 | |
| 29 | Indemnity | 44 |
| Indemnity | 44 | |
| Release | 45 | |
| Insurance | 45 | |
| Form of notices | 45 | |
| Electronic communications | 45 | |
| Persons authorised to give notices | 46 | |
| Delivery of written notices | 46 | |
| Joint holders | 46 | |
| Signatures | 46 | |
| Evidence of transmission | 46 | |
| Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member | 46 | |
| Date of giving notices | 47 | |
| Saving provision | 47 | |
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records | 47 |
| Application of Articles | 47 | |
| Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means | 47 | |
| Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means | 48 | |
| Manner of signing | 48 | |
| Saving provision | 48 | |
| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation | 49 |
| 32 | Winding up | 49 |
| Distribution of assets in specie | 49 |
5
| No obligation to accept liability | 49 | |
| The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition | 50 | |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles | 50 |
| Power to change name or amend Memorandum | 50 | |
| Power to amend these Articles | 50 | |
| 34 | Mergers and Consolidations | 50 |
| 35 | Class B Share Conversion | 50 |
| 36 | Business Combination | 52 |
| 37 | Certain Tax Filings | 55 |
| 38 | Business Opportunities | 55 |
| 39 | Exclusive Jurisdiction and Forum | 56 |
Companies
Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated Articles of Association
of
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
(Conditionally adopted by special resolution passed on [date] 2025 and with effect immediately prior to the listing of the securities of the Company on the Nasdaq Capital Market)
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
Definitions
| 1.1 | In these Articles, the following definitions apply: |
Act means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, including any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force.
Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.11.
Amendment Redemption Event has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.11.
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.
Approved Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.11.
Articles means, as appropriate:
| (a) | these articles of association as amended from time to time: or |
| (b) | two or more particular articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular article of these Articles.
Audit Committee means the audit committee of the Company formed pursuant to Article 22.8 hereof, or any successor audit committee.
Auditor means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company.
Automatic Redemption Event shall have the meaning given to it in Article 36.2.
Business Combination shall mean the initial acquisition by the Company, whether through a merger, share reconstruction or amalgamation, asset or share acquisition, exchangeable share transaction, contractual control arrangement or other similar type of transaction, with a Target Business at Fair Value.
Business Day means a day other than (a) a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City (b) a Saturday or (c) a Sunday.
1
Cayman Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.
Class A Share means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company.
Class B Share means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company.
Class B Share Entitlement means the right of the Sponsor as holder of the Class B Shares (including on an as-converted basis) to 20 per cent. of all entitlements to income and capital arising in respect of all Shares in issue from time to time.
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
| (a) | the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
| (b) | the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
Clearing House 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.
Company means the above-named company.
Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.
Designated Stock Exchange means Nasdaq Capital Market or any other national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading.
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
Equity-Linked Securities means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt.
Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fair Value shall mean a value at least equal to 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and any taxes payable on the Trust Account balance) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination.
2
Fully Paid and Paid Up:
| (a) | in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
| (b) | in 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 money or money’s worth. |
Independent Director 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.
Initial Shareholders means the Sponsor, the directors and officers of the Company or their respective affiliates who hold Shares prior to the IPO.
IPO means the initial public offering of units, consisting of Shares and rights of the Company and rights to receive Shares of the Company.
Member means any person or persons entered on the Register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share.
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time.
Officer means a person then appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator.
Ordinary Resolution 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.
Over-Allotment Option means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15% of the firm units (as described at Article 2.4) sold in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discount and commissions.
Per-Share Redemption Price means:
| (a) | with respect to an Automatic Redemption Event, the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to USD100,000) divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; |
| (b) | with respect to an Amendment Redemption Event, the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; and |
| (c) | with respect to either a Tender Redemption Offer or a Redemption Offer, the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. |
Public Share means the Class A Shares included in the units issued in the IPO (as described in Article 2.4).
Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.5(b).
3
Register of 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.
Registration Statement has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.10.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.
Share means a Class A Share or a Class B Share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:
| (a) | includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and |
| (b) | where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share. |
Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act.
Sponsor means Blueport Acquisition Corporation, being the sole Member immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO.
Sponsor Group means the Sponsor and its respective affiliates, successors and assigns.
Target Business means any businesses or entity with whom the Company wishes to undertake a Business Combination.
Target Business Acquisition Period shall mean the period commencing from the effectiveness of the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Company’s IPO up to and including the first to occur of (i) a Business Combination; or (ii) the Termination Date.
Tax Filing Authorised Person means such person as any director shall designate from time to time, acting severally.
Tender Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 36.5(a).
Termination Date has the meaning given to it in Article 36.2.
Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 2.16.
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 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.
4
Interpretation
| 1.2 | In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires: |
| (a) | A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Cayman Islands as known by its short title, and includes: |
| (i) | any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and |
| (ii) | any 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.
| (b) | Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity. |
| (c) | If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day. |
| (d) | A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders. |
| (e) | A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency. |
| (f) | Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
| (g) | All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located. |
| (h) | The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied. |
| (i) | The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation. |
Exclusion of Table A Articles
| 1.3 | The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company. |
5
| 2 | Shares |
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
| 2.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide, save that the directors may not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Share Conversion described at Article 35. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act. |
| 2.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company: |
| (a) | either at a premium or at par; |
| (b) | with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. |
Notwithstanding the above, following an IPO and prior to a Business Combination, the Company may not issue additional Shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote on any Business Combination.
| 2.3 | The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company at such times and on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide. |
| 2.4 | The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the managing Underwriter determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO with the SEC and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another. |
| 2.5 | Each Share in the Company confers upon the Member: |
| (a) | subject to Article 33, the right to one vote at a meeting of the Members of the Company or on any resolution of Members; |
| (b) | the right to be redeemed on an Automatic Redemption Event in accordance with Article 36.2 or pursuant to either a Tender Redemption Offer or Redemption Offer in accordance with Article 36.5 or pursuant to an Amendment Redemption Event in accordance with Article 36.11; |
6
| (c) | a pro rata right in any dividend paid by the Company; and |
| (d) | subject to satisfaction of and compliance with Article 36, a pro rata right in the distribution of the surplus assets of the Company on its liquidation provided that in the event that the Company enters liquidation prior to or without having consummated a Business Combination then, in such circumstances, in the event any surplus assets (Residual Assets) of the Company remain following the Company having complied with its applicable obligations to redeem Public Shares and distribute the funds held in the Trust Account in respect of such redemptions pursuant to Article 36, the Public Shares shall not have any right to receive any share of those Residual Assets which are held outside the Trust Account and such Residual Assets shall be distributed (on a pro rata basis) only in respect of those Shares that are not Public Shares. |
Power to issue fractions of a Share
| 2.6 | Subject to the Act, the Company may, but shall not otherwise be obliged to, issue fractions of a Share of any class or round up or down fractional holdings of Shares to its nearest whole number. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares. |
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
| 2.7 | The Company may, in so far as the Act permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
| (a) | subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
| (b) | procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional |
for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
| 2.8 | The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage. |
Trusts not recognised
| 2.9 | Except as required by Applicable Law: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder; and |
| (b) | no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Power to vary class rights
| 2.10 | If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies: |
| (a) | the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
| (b) | the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
7
| 2.11 | For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that: |
| (a) | the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
| (b) | any 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 representative, may demand a poll. |
| 2.12 | Notwithstanding Article 2.10, unless the proposed variation is for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination, prior to a Business Combination but subject always to the limitations set out in Article 33 in respect of amendments to the Memorandum and Articles, the rights attached to the Shares as specified in Article 2.5 may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a Special Resolution, and any such variation that has to be approved under this Article shall also be subject to compliance with Article 36.11. |
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
| 2.13 | Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class. |
Capital contributions without issue of further Shares
| 2.14 | With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner: |
| (a) | It shall be treated as if it were a share premium. |
| (b) | Unless the Member agrees otherwise: |
| (i) | if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares - it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares; |
| (ii) | if the Member holds Shares of more than one class - it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds). |
| (c) | It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums. |
8
No bearer Shares or warrants
| 2.15 | The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers. |
Treasury Shares
| 2.16 | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if: |
| (a) | the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
| (b) | the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with. |
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
| 2.17 | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
| 2.18 | The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; |
| (b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act. |
| 2.19 | Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 2.20 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine. |
| 3 | Register of Members |
| 3.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Act. |
| 3.2 | The directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Act. The directors may also determine which Register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
| 3.3 | The title to Public Shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and, for these purposes, the Register of Members may be maintained in accordance with Article 40B of the Act. |
9
| 4 | Share certificates |
Issue of share certificates
| 4.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the directors may determine. If the directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued, upon being entered in the register of Members as the holder of a Share, the directors may issue to any Member: |
| (a) | without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
| (b) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
| 4.2 | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine. |
| 4.3 | Every certificate shall bear legends required under the Applicable Laws. |
| 4.4 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
| 4.5 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
| (a) | evidence; |
| (b) | indemnity; |
| (c) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
| (d) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate |
as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
| 5 | Lien on Shares |
Nature and scope of lien
| 5.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
| (a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
| (b) | whether or not those moneys are presently payable. |
10
| 5.2 | At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
| 5.3 | The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
| (b) | the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
| (c) | that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles. |
| 5.4 | The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine. |
| 5.5 | To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
| 5.6 | To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
| 5.7 | On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that 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.
11
Application of proceeds of sale
| 5.8 | The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold: |
| (a) | if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
| (b) | if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation |
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.
| 6 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
Power to make calls and effect of calls
| 6.1 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice. |
| 6.2 | Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part. |
| 6.3 | A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. A person shall not be liable for calls made after such person is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. |
Time when call made
| 6.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed. |
Liability of joint holders
| 6.5 | Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
Interest on unpaid calls
| 6.6 | If 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 unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
| (a) | at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
12
| (b) | if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
| 6.7 | Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
Power to accept early payment
| 6.8 | The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up. |
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
| 6.9 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
Notice of default
| 6.10 | If 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 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
| (a) | the amount unpaid; |
| (b) | any interest which may have accrued; |
| (c) | any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
| 6.11 | The notice shall state the following: |
| (a) | the place where payment is to be made; and |
| (b) | a 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. |
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
| 6.12 | If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
| 6.13 | The directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any Fully Paid Share. |
13
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
| 6.14 | A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee. |
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
| 6.15 | On forfeiture or surrender: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares. |
| 6.16 | Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
| (a) | all expenses; and |
| (b) | interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
| (i) | at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or |
| (ii) | if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
| 6.17 | A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
| (a) | that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and |
| (b) | that 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.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
| 6.18 | Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
14
| 7 | Transfer of Shares |
Form of transfer
| 7.1 | Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, and provided that such transfer complies with applicable rules of the SEC, the Designated Stock Exchange and federal and state securities laws of the United States, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange or in any other form approved by the directors, executed: |
| (a) | where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and |
| (b) | where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee. |
| 7.2 | The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered into the Register of Members. |
Power to refuse registration
| 7.3 | If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to Article 2.4 on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant. |
Power to suspend registration
| 7.4 | The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer
| 7.5 | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
| 8 | Transmission of Shares |
Persons entitled on death of a Member
| 8.1 | If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following: |
| (a) | where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
| (b) | where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
| 8.2 | Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
15
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 8.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following: |
| (a) | to become the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | to transfer the Share to another person. |
| 8.4 | That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require. |
| 8.5 | If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer. |
| 8.6 | If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
| (a) | if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
| (b) | if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
| 8.7 | All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
| 8.8 | A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration. |
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 8.9 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. However, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company. |
| 9 | Alteration of capital |
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
| 9.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
16
| (c) | convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | sub-divide 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, 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 the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
| (e) | cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
| 9.2 | Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members: |
| (a) | sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and |
| (b) | distribute 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.
Reducing share capital
| 9.3 | Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way. |
| 10 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
| 10.1 | Subject to the Act and Article 36, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company may by its directors: |
| (a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares; |
| (b) | with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
17
| (c) | purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and 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.
| 10.2 | With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares: |
| (a) | Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in Article 36.5; |
| (b) | Class B Shares held by the Sponsor shall, following consummation of the IPO, be surrendered by the Sponsor on a pro rata basis for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Class B Shares will at all times represent 20% of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO; and |
| (c) | Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in Article 36.5. |
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
| 10.3 | When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 10.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
| 10.4 | Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
| (a) | the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive: |
| (i) | the price for the Share; and |
| (ii) | any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
| (b) | the Member’s name shall be removed from the Register of Members with respect to the Share; and |
| (c) | the 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.
| 10.5 | For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions and repurchases of Shares in the circumstances described in Articles 10.4(a), 10.4(b) and 10.4(c) above shall not require further approval of the Members. |
18
| 11 | Meetings of Members |
Power to call meetings
| 11.1 | To the extent required by the Designated Stock Exchange, an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held no later than one year after the first financial year end occurring after the IPO, and shall be held in each year thereafter at such time as determined by the directors and the Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange) be obliged to, in each year hold any other general meeting. |
| 11.2 | The agenda of the annual general meeting shall be set by the directors and shall include the presentation of the Company’s annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any). |
| 11.3 | Annual general meetings shall be held in New York, USA or in such other places as the directors may determine. |
| 11.4 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings and the Company shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. |
| 11.5 | The directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
| 11.6 | If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors. |
| 11.7 | The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
| 11.8 | The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting. |
| 11.9 | The requisition must also: |
| (a) | specify the purpose of the meeting. |
| (b) | be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners. |
| (c) | be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
| 11.10 | Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period. |
| 11.11 | Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors. |
| 11.12 | Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for election as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual general meeting. |
19
Content of notice
| 11.13 | Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
| (a) | the place, the date and the hour of the meeting; |
| (b) | if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; |
| (c) | subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
| (d) | if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
| 11.14 | In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
| (a) | that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
| (b) | that a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
Period of notice
| 11.15 | At least five days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in 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, together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
Persons entitled to receive notice
| 11.16 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people: |
| (a) | the Members; |
| (b) | persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and |
| (c) | the directors. |
20
Publication of notice on a website
| 11.17 | Subject to the Act or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of: |
| (a) | the publication of the notice on the website; |
| (b) | the place on the website where the notice may be accessed; |
| (c) | how it may be accessed; and |
| (d) | the place, date and time of the general meeting. |
| 11.18 | If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. This will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting. |
Time a website notice is deemed to be given
| 11.19 | A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication. |
Required duration of publication on a website
| 11.20 | Where 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 of the notification until at least the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
| 11.21 | Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
| (a) | an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
| (b) | non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
| 11.22 | In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published: |
| (a) | in a different place on the website; or |
| (b) | for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
| 12 | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
Quorum
| 12.1 | Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. One or more Members who together hold not less than one-third of the issued and outstanding Shares entitled to attend and vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
21
Lack of quorum
| 12.2 | If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
| (a) | If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled. |
| (b) | In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the meeting shall be dissolved. |
Use of technology
| 12.3 | A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Chairman
| 12.4 | The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting. |
| 12.5 | If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
Right of a director to attend and speak
| 12.6 | Even 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 holding a particular class of Shares in the Company. |
Adjournment
| 12.7 | The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
| 12.8 | Should a meeting be adjourned for more than twenty Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
Method of voting
| 12.9 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
22
Taking of a poll
| 12.10 | A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
| 12.11 | A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
| 12.12 | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
| 12.13 | A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur. |
Chairman’s casting vote
| 12.14 | If the votes on a resolution are equal, the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote. |
Amendments to resolutions
| 12.15 | An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if: |
| (a) | not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment 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 reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution. |
| 12.16 | A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if: |
| (a) | the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and |
| (b) | the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution. |
| 12.17 | If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution. |
Written resolutions
| 12.18 | Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | all Members entitled so to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
23
| (b) | all Members entitled so to vote : |
| (i) | sign a document; or |
| (ii) | sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (c) | the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery 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.
| 12.19 | If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
| 12.20 | The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll. |
Sole-member company
| 12.21 | If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
| 13 | Voting rights of Members |
Right to vote
| 13.1 | Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
| 13.2 | Members may vote in person or by proxy. |
| 13.3 | Every Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
| 13.4 | A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote. |
| 13.5 | No 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. |
Rights of joint holders
| 13.6 | If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the Register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
24
Representation of corporate Members
| 13.7 | Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
| 13.8 | A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
| 13.9 | The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
| 13.10 | The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice. |
| 13.11 | Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
| 13.12 | A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
| 13.13 | If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)). |
Member with mental disorder
| 13.14 | A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
| 13.15 | For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
Objections to admissibility of votes
| 13.16 | An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
25
Form of proxy
| 13.17 | An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors. |
| 13.18 | The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by the Member; or |
| (b) | by the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
| (c) | if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised 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 the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
| 13.19 | The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy. |
| 13.20 | A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
How and when proxy is to be delivered
| 13.21 | Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways: |
| (a) | In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
| (i) | to the registered office of the Company; or |
| (ii) | to such other place specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (b) | If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
| (i) | in the notice convening the meeting; or |
| (ii) | in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
| (iii) | in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
26
| 13.22 | Where a poll is taken: |
| (a) | if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; |
| (b) | but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. |
| 13.23 | If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
Voting by proxy
| 13.24 | A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid. |
| 14 | Number of directors |
Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and there shall be no maximum.
| 15 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors |
No age limit
| 15.1 | There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years. |
Corporate directors
| 15.2 | Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about directors’ meetings. |
No shareholding qualification
| 15.3 | Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment. |
Appointment and removal of directors
| 15.4 | The directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III 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. The number of directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO, the existing directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III directors. The Class I directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s third annual general meeting. Commencing at the Company’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their election. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. |
27
| 15.5 | Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares appoint any person to be a director or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares remove any director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any director. This Article may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by holders representing at least 90% of the outstanding Class B Shares. |
| 15.6 | Subject to Article 15.4 and 15.5, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a director. |
| 15.7 | Subject to death, resignation or removal, and with the exception of those directors appointed prior to the first annual general meeting of the Company, each director shall serve a term of office that will expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment or election. |
| 15.8 | A director may be removed from office with or without cause by (following the consummation of the Business Combination but not at any time before) an Ordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Members called for the purposes of removing the director or for purposes including the removal of the director. |
| 15.9 | Subject to Article 15.4 and Article 15.5, the directors shall have power at any time to appoint any person to be a director who: |
| (a) | is recommended as a director nominee by a majority of the Independent Directors; and |
| (b) | is willing to act as a director, |
either to fill a vacancy or as an additional director. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.
| 15.10 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person 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 shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder; |
28
| (b) | if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or 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. |
| 15.11 | A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors. |
| 15.12 | No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
| 15.13 | For so long as Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as Applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange require, subject to applicable phase-in rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
Resignation of directors
| 15.14 | A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions. |
| 15.15 | Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company. |
Termination of the office of director
| 15.16 | A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
| (a) | he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director; or |
| (b) | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (c) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or |
| (d) | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; |
29
| (e) | without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months; or |
| (f) | all of the other directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other directors at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other directors. |
| 16 | Alternate directors |
Appointment and removal
| 16.1 | Until the consummation of a Business Combination, a director may not appoint an alternate. Following the consummation of a Business Combination, Articles 16.2 to 16.5 inclusive shall apply. |
| 16.2 | Subject to Article 16.1, any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 16.4(c)). |
| 16.3 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 16.4. |
| 16.4 | A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 16.2. |
| 16.5 | A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
| (b) | if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine; |
30
| (c) | if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or |
| (d) | if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing. |
Notices
| 16.6 | All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate. |
Rights of alternate director
| 16.7 | An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence. |
| 16.8 | For the avoidance of doubt: |
| (a) | if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and |
| (b) | if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate. |
| 16.9 | An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director. |
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director
| 16.10 | An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director. |
Status of alternate director
| 16.11 | An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment. |
| 16.12 | Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles. |
| 16.13 | An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him. |
| 16.14 | An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director. |
31
Status of the director making the appointment
| 16.15 | A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company. |
| 17 | Powers of directors |
Powers of directors
| 17.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
| 17.2 | No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, following the consummation of the IPO Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
Appointments to office
| 17.3 | The directors may appoint a director: |
| (a) | as chairman of the board of directors; |
| (b) | as vice-chairman of the board of directors; |
| (c) | as managing director; |
| (d) | to any other executive office |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.
| 17.4 | The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 17.5 | Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors. |
| 17.6 | If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available. |
| 17.7 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director: |
| (a) | as Secretary; and |
| (b) | to any office that may be required (including, for the avoidance of doubt, one or more chief executive officers, presidents, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, vice-presidents, one or more assistant vice-presidents, one or more 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.
32
| 17.8 | The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 17.9 | A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold the office, or perform the services, of Auditor. |
Remuneration
| 17.10 | The remuneration to be paid to the directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any director prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all out of pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with activities on behalf of the Company, including identifying and consummating a Business Combination. |
| 17.11 | Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him. |
| 17.12 | Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
Disclosure of information
| 17.13 | The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the Register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if: |
| (a) | the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or |
| (b) | such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or |
| (c) | such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
| (d) | the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
| 18 | Delegation of powers |
Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee
| 18.1 | The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors. |
| 18.2 | The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers. |
| 18.3 | The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will. |
| 18.4 | Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors. |
33
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
| 18.5 | The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment: |
| (a) | by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
| (b) | in any other manner they determine. |
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
| 18.6 | The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
| (a) | for any purpose; |
| (b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions; |
| (c) | for the period; and |
| (d) | subject 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.
| 18.7 | Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person. |
Power to appoint a proxy
| 18.8 | Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director. |
| 18.9 | Articles 16.1 to 16.5 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors. |
| 18.10 | A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an officer of the Company. |
| 19 | Meetings of directors |
Regulation of directors’ meetings
| 19.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
34
Calling meetings
| 19.2 | Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director. |
Notice of meetings
| 19.3 | Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. Attendance at a meeting without written objection shall be deemed to be a waiver of such notice requirement. |
Period of notice
| 19.4 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. A meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors. |
Use of technology
| 19.5 | A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
| 19.6 | A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Place of meetings
| 19.7 | If 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 place wherever any of them is. |
Quorum
| 19.8 | The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director. |
Voting
| 19.9 | A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote. |
Validity
| 19.10 | Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote. |
Recording of dissent
| 19.11 | A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless: |
| (a) | his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
| (b) | he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
35
| (c) | he 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.
Written resolutions
| 19.12 | The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors. |
| 19.13 | Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. If a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy. |
| 19.14 | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs. |
Sole director’s minute
| 19.15 | Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms. |
| 20 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure |
Permissible interests subject to disclosure
| 20.1 | Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company. |
| 20.2 | If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may: |
| (a) | be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; or |
| (b) | be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate. |
| 20.3 | Such disclosure may be made at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest. |
| 20.4 | If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. |
36
Notification of interests
| 20.5 | For the purposes of the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and |
| (b) | an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his. |
Voting where a director is interested in a matter
| 20.6 | A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted. |
| 20.7 | Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment. |
| 21 | Minutes |
The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.
| 22 | Accounts and audit |
Accounting and other records
| 22.1 | The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act. |
No automatic right of inspection
| 22.2 | Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Sending of accounts and reports
| 22.3 | The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if: |
| (a) | they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or |
37
| (b) | they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of: |
| (i) | the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website; |
| (ii) | the address of the website; and |
| (iii) | the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and |
| (iv) | how they may be accessed. |
| 22.4 | If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article. |
Time of receipt if documents are published on a website
| 22.5 | Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if: |
| (a) | the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and |
| (b) | the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing. |
Validity despite accidental error in publication on website
| 22.6 | If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because: |
| (a) | those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or |
| (b) | they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting. |
Audit
| 22.7 | The directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the directors determine. |
| 22.8 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
38
| 22.9 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
| 22.10 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 22.11 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 22.12 | Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 22.13 | Auditors shall, if so required by the directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 23 | Financial year |
Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:
| (a) | shall end on 31st December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and |
| (b) | shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year. |
| 24 | 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 a general meeting; |
| (b) | declaring or paying a dividend; |
| (c) | making or issuing an allotment of Shares; or |
| (d) | conducting 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.
39
| 25 | Dividends |
Declaration of dividends by Members
| 25.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors
| 25.2 | The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
| 25.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
| (a) | Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made. |
| (b) | Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately 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.
| 25.4 | In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: |
| (a) | If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears. |
| (b) | The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment. |
| (c) | If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Apportionment of dividends
| 25.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. If a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
40
Right of set off
| 25.6 | The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
Power to pay other than in cash
| 25.7 | If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | issue fractional Shares; |
| (b) | fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
| (c) | vest some assets in trustees. |
How payments may be made
| 25.8 | A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
| (a) | if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or |
| (b) | by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share. |
| 25.9 | For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
| 25.10 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
| (a) | to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
| (b) | to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record. |
| 25.11 | Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share. |
41
Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights
| 25.12 | Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest. |
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
| 25.13 | If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
| 25.14 | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
| 26 | Capitalisation of profits |
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve
| 26.1 | The directors may resolve to capitalise: |
| (a) | any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or |
| (b) | any 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 paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; |
| (b) | by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid. |
Applying an amount for the benefit of members
| 26.2 | The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
| 26.3 | Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
42
| 27 | Share premium account |
Directors to maintain share premium account
| 27.1 | The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act. |
Debits to share premium account
| 27.2 | The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
| (a) | on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and |
| (b) | any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act. |
| 27.3 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital. |
| 28 | Seal |
Company seal
| 28.1 | The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine. |
Duplicate seal
| 28.2 | Subject 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 Cayman Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
When and how seal is to be used
| 28.3 | A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate). |
If no seal is adopted or used
| 28.4 | If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
| (a) | by a director (or his alternate) or any Officer to which authority has been delegated by resolution duly adopted by the directors; or |
| (b) | by a single director (or his alternate); or |
| (c) | in any other manner permitted by the Act. |
43
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
| 28.5 | The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
| (a) | that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; |
| (b) | that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
Validity of execution
| 28.6 | If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company. |
| 29 | Indemnity |
Indemnity
| 29.1 | To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: |
| (a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
| (b) | without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.
| 29.2 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs. |
44
Release
| 29.3 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect. |
Insurance
| 29.4 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
| (a) | an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
| (i) | the Company; |
| (ii) | a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; |
| (iii) | a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
| 29.5 | a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested. Notices |
Form of notices
| 29.6 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be: |
| (a) | in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
| (b) | subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
| (c) | where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
Electronic communications
| 29.7 | Without limitation to Articles 16.2 to 16.5 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 18.8 to 18.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
| (a) | the directors so resolve; |
| (b) | the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and |
45
| (c) | the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were 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.
| 29.8 | A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
Persons authorised to give notices
| 29.9 | A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
Delivery of written notices
| 29.10 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
Joint holders
| 29.11 | Where 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
| 29.12 | A 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 execution or adoption by the giver. |
| 29.13 | An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
Evidence of transmission
| 29.14 | A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
| 29.15 | A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient. |
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
| 29.16 | A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled. |
| 29.17 | Until 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 had not occurred. |
46
Date of giving notices
| 29.18 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following table. |
Method for giving notices |
When taken to be given | |
| Personally | At the time and date of delivery | |
| By leaving it at the member’s registered address | At the time and date it was left | |
| If the recipient has an address within the Cayman Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient | 48 hours after it was posted | |
| If the recipient has an address outside the Cayman Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient | 3 Clear Days after posting | |
| By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | Within 24 hours after it was sent | |
| By publication on a website | See the Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website |
Saving provision
| 29.19 | None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members. |
| 30 | Authentication of Electronic Records |
Application of Articles
| 30.1 | Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 30.2 or Article 30.4 applies. |
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
| 30.2 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
47
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 does not apply. |
| 30.3 | For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 30.7 applies. |
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
| 30.4 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 30.7 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.
| 30.5 | For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 30.7 applies. |
Manner of signing
| 30.6 | For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
Saving provision
| 30.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
| (a) | believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or |
| (b) | believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or |
48
| (c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document |
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
| 31 | Transfer by way of continuation |
| 31.1 | The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside: |
| (a) | the Cayman Islands; or |
| (b) | such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
However, only holders of Class B Shares have the right to vote on continuing the Company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands before the Business Combination. This Article may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by holders representing at least 90% of the outstanding Class B Shares.
| 31.2 | To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following: |
| (a) | an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and |
| (b) | all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
| 32 | Winding up |
Distribution of assets in specie
| 32.1 | If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
| (a) | to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; |
| (b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
No obligation to accept liability
| 32.2 | No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
49
The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
| 32.3 | The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. |
| 33 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
| 33.1 | Subject to the Act and Article 33.2, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; or |
| (b) | change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum. |
Power to amend these Articles
| 33.2 | Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part save that no amendment may be made to the Memorandum or Articles to amend: |
| (a) | Article 36 prior to the Business Combination unless the holders of the Public Shares are provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment in the manner and for the price as set out in Article 36.11; or |
| (b) | this Article 33.2 during the Target Business Acquisition Period; |
| (c) | special resolution amending 15.5. |
| 34 | 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.
| 35 | Class B Share Conversion |
| 35.1 | Save and except for the conversion rights referred to in this Article 35 and as otherwise set out in these Articles, subject to Article 2.10, the rights attaching to all Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, and the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters. |
| 35.2 | Class B Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares in such a ratio so as to give effect to the Class B Share Entitlement (the Conversion Ratio): (a) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holders thereof; and (b) automatically on the day of the closing of a Business Combination. |
| 35.3 | In order to give effect to the Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the closing of a Business Combination at the Conversion Ratio (unless the holders of a majority of the Class B Shares in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 20 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination minus any redemption of Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination, excluding any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement units issued to the Sponsor or its Affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company. |
50
| 35.4 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in Article 2.10 hereof. |
| 35.5 | The Conversion Ratio shall also take into account any subdivision (by share split, subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by reverse share split, share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue. |
| 35.6 | Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
| 35.7 | References in this Article to “converted”, “conversion” or “exchange” shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct. |
51
| 35.8 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event may any Class B Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than the Conversion Ratio. |
| 36 | Business Combination |
| 36.1 | Articles 36.1 to 36.11 shall terminate upon consummation of any Business Combination. |
| 36.2 | The Company has until 15 months from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination, provided however that if the board of directors anticipates that the Company may not be able to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months of the closing of the IPO, the Company may, seek Members’ approval to amend these Articles to extend the period of time by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the IPO (the Termination Date) or such period that may be extended, such failure shall trigger an automatic redemption of the Public Shares (an Automatic Redemption Event) and the directors of the Company shall take all such action necessary to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten (10) Business Days thereafter to redeem the Public Shares to the holders of Public Shares, on a pro rata basis, in cash at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such Automatic Redemption Event, subject to the approval of our remaining Members and our directors, liquidate and dissolve the Company, subject to the Company’s obligations under the Act to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, only the holders of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata redeeming distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Public Shares. |
| 36.3 | Unless a shareholder vote is required by law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, or, at the sole discretion of the directors, the directors determine to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company may enter into a Business Combination without submitting such Business Combination to its Members for approval. |
| 36.4 | Although not required, in the event that a shareholder vote is held, and a majority of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote thereon which were present at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such Business Combination, the Company shall be authorised to consummate the Business Combination. |
| 36.5 |
| (a) | In the event that a Business Combination is consummated by the Company other than in connection with a shareholder vote under Article 36.4, the Company will, subject to as provided below, offer to redeem the Public Shares for cash in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and subject to any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) set forth in the definitive transaction agreements related to the initial Business Combination (the Tender Redemption Offer), provided however that the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the directors or officers of the Company pursuant to such Tender Redemption Offer, whether or not such holders accept such Tender Redemption Offer. The Company will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to consummating the Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination and the redemption rights as would be required in a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. In accordance with the Exchange Act, the Tender Redemption Offer will remain open for a minimum of 20 Business Days and the Company will not be permitted to consummate its Business Combination until the expiry of such period. If in the event a Member holding Public Shares accepts the Tender Redemption Offer and the Company has not otherwise withdrawn the tender offer, the Company shall, promptly after the consummation of the Business Combination, pay such redeeming Member, on a pro rata basis, cash equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price. |
52
| (b) | In the event that a Business Combination is consummated by the Company in connection with a shareholder vote held pursuant to Article 36.4 in accordance with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (the Redemption Offer), the Company will, subject as provided below, offer to redeem the Public Shares, other than those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the directors or officers of the Company, regardless of whether such shares are voted for or against the Business Combination, for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price, provided however that: (i) the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the directors or officers of the Company pursuant to such Redemption Offer, whether or not such holders accept such Redemption Offer; and (ii) any other redeeming Member who either individually or together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” (as such term is defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) shall not be permitted to redeem, without the consent of the Company, more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total Public Shares sold in the IPO. |
| (c) | In no event will the Company consummate the Tender Redemption Offer or the Redemption Offer under Article 36.5(a) or 36.5(b) or an Amendment Redemption Event under Article 36.11 if such redemptions would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than US$5,000,001 or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the Business Combination. |
| 36.6 | A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, an Amendment Redemption Event or in the event he accepts a Tender Redemption Offer or a Redemption Offer where the Business Combination is consummated. In no other circumstances shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in or to the Trust Account. |
53
| 36.7 | Prior to a Business Combination, the Company will not issue any securities (other than Public Shares) that would entitle the holder thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account; or (ii) vote on any Business Combination. |
| 36.8 | In the event the Company enters into a Business Combination with a company that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the directors or officers of the Company, the Company will obtain (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or independent accounting firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company the Company seeks that such a Business Combination is fair to the holders of the Public Shares from a financial point of view, and (ii) the approval of a majority of disinterested and Independent Directors (as the case may be at relevant time). |
| 36.9 | The Company will not effectuate a Business Combination with another “blank cheque” company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
| 36.10 | Immediately after the Company’s IPO, that amount of the proceeds received by the Company in or in connection with the IPO (including proceeds of any exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and any proceeds from the simultaneous private placement of like units comprising like securities to those included in the IPO by the Company) as is described in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC (the Registration Statement) at the time it goes effective as shall be deposited in the Trust Account shall be so deposited and thereafter held in the Trust Account until released in the event of a Business Combination or otherwise in accordance with this Article 36. Neither the Company nor any officer, director or employee of the Company will disburse any of the proceeds held in the Trust Account until the earlier of (i) a Business Combination, or (ii) an Automatic Redemption Event or in payment of the acquisition price for any shares which the Company elects to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire in accordance with this Article 36, in each case in accordance with the trust agreement governing the Trust Account; provided that interest earned on the Trust Account (as described in the Registration Statement) may be released from time to time to the Company to pay the Company’s tax obligations. |
| 36.11 | In the event the directors of the Company propose any amendment to Article 36 or to any of the other rights of the Shares as set out at Article 2.5 prior to, but not for the purposes of approving or in conjunction with the consummation of, a Business Combination that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations as described in this Article 36 to pay or to offer to pay the Per-Share Redemption Price to any holder of the Public Shares (an Amendment) and such Amendment is duly approved by a Special Resolution of the Members (an Approved Amendment), the Company will offer to redeem the Public Shares of any Member for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price (an Amendment Redemption Event), provided however that the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the directors or officers of the Company pursuant to such offer, whether or not such holders accept such offer. |
54
| 37 | Certain Tax Filings |
| 37.1 | Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any director or officer of the Company. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of the Articles. |
| 38 | Business Opportunities |
| 38.1 | In recognition and anticipation of the facts that: (a) directors and Officers of the Company may serve as directors and/or officers of other entities which engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company engages; (b) directors, managers, officers, members, partners, managing members, employees and/or agents of one or more members of the Sponsor Group (each of the foregoing, a Sponsor Group Related Person) may serve as directors and/or officers of the Company; and (c) the Sponsor Group engages, and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions under this heading “Business Opportunities” are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve the Sponsor Group and the Sponsor Group Related Persons, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its directors, Officers and Members in connection therewith. |
| 38.2 | To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors and Officers of the Company, the Sponsor Group and the Sponsor Group Related Persons (each of the foregoing, a Relevant Person) shall have no duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for either a Relevant Person, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, a Relevant Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, director and/or Officer of the Company solely by reason of the fact that such Relevant Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such Relevant Person solely in their capacity as a director or Officer of the Company and the opportunity is one the Company is permitted to complete on a reasonable basis. |
| 38.3 | Except as provided elsewhere in the Articles, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and a Relevant Person, about which a director and/or officer of the Company who is also a Relevant Person acquires knowledge. |
55
| 38.4 | To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
| 39 | Exclusive Jurisdiction and Forum |
| 39.1 | Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Memorandum, the Articles or otherwise related in any way to each Member’s shareholding in the Company, including but not limited to: |
| (a) | any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company; |
| (b) | any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any current or former director, Officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Members; |
| (c) | any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Act, the Memorandum or the Articles; or |
| (d) | any action asserting a claim against the Company governed by the “Internal Affairs Doctrine” (as such concept is recognised under the laws of the United States of America). |
| 39.2 | Each Member irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. |
| 39.3 | Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have, each Member acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly the Company shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. |
| 39.4 | This Article 39 shall not apply to any action or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim. |
56
Exhibit 4.1
| NUMBER BPACR |
UNITS |
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP
UNITS CONSISTING OF
ONE ORDINARY SHARE AND ONE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ONE-SIXTH OF ONE ORDINARY SHARE
THIS CERTIFIES THAT _________________________________________________________________________ is the owner of _________________________________________________________________________ Units.
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”), of Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempt company (the “Company”) and one right (the “Right(s)”). Each Right entitles the holder to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Ordinary Share upon the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. The Ordinary Shares and Rights comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to the 52nd day after the date of the prospectus relating to the closing of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”), subject to earlier separation in the discretion of A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, provided that the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO and issued a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. The terms of the Rights are governed by a rights agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of _____, 2025, between the Company and VStock Transfer, LLC as the rights agent, and is subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. A copy of the Rights Agreement is on file at the office of VStock Transfer LLC at ________, and is available to the Rights holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.
This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.
Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
| By: | ||
| Chief Executive Officer |
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
The Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | — | as tenants in common |
| TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties |
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
____________________________________________________________________________ Units represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
____________________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated _________________________________________
| Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).
The holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of the funds from the trust account with respect to the common stock underlying this certificate only in the event that (i) the Company is forced to liquidate because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Charter”) or (ii) if the holder seeks to convert his shares upon consummation of, or sell his shares in a tender offer in connection with, an initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to the Charter. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
2
Exhibit 4.2
SPECIMEN ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE NUMBER
SHARES ________
Blueport
Acquisition Ltd
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
ORDINARY SHARE
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
THIS CERTIFIES THAT IS THE OWNER OF FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.0001 PER SHARE
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly
endorsed. This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. Witness the facsimile
signatures of its duly authorized officers.
Dated:
| Chairman | Chief Financial Officer |
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
212-829-8937
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of each class of share or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations,
or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the Ordinary Shares represented thereby are issued and shall
be held subject to all the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the
Board of Directors providing for the issuance of Ordinary Shares (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company),
to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | — | as tenants in common |
| TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties |
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
| UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | — | Custodian |
| (Cust) | |
| under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (Minor) | |
|
(State) |
Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Shares of the Company represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said share on the books of the within named Corporation will full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated _________________________________________
2
| Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
| THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). |
The holder of this certificate shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of (i) the liquidation of the trust account upon a failure to consummate a business combination, as described in the prospectus covering the securities or (ii) if the holder seeks to convert his respective shares or sells them to the Company in a tender offer, in each case in connection with (1) the consummation of a business combination or (2) in connection with an amendment to our Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the consummation of a business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
3
Exhibit 4.3
|
NUMBER BPACR |
RIGHTS |
Blueport
Acquisition Ltd
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
RIGHT
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP
THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received ________________
is the registered holder of a right or rights (each, a “Right”) to automatically receive one-sixth of one ordinary share, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) for each Right evidenced by this Rights Certificate on the Company’s completion of an initial business combination (as defined in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering (“Prospectus”)) upon surrender of this Right Certificate pursuant to the Rights Agreement between the Company and Odyssey Trust Company, as Rights Agent. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Right or issue a fractional Ordinary Share.
Upon liquidation of the Company in the event an initial business combination is not consummated during the required period as identified in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Right shall expire and be worthless. The holder of a Right shall have no right or interest of any kind in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Right Certificate at the office or agency of the Rights Agent, a new Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Rights shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Right Certificate, without charge except for any applicable tax or other governmental charge. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. The Company reserves the right to deal with any fractional entitlement at the relevant time in any manner (as provided in the Rights Agreement).
The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the registered holder as the absolute owner of this Right Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any conversion hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Right Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
This Right does not entitle the registered holder to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company. This Right shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
| Dated: | ||
| CHAIRMAN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | |
| Odyssey Trust Company |
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | — | as tenants in common |
| TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties |
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
| Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. |
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations,
or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the rights represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject
to all the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors
providing for the issue of shares of Ordinary Shares (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which
the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.
For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
|
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) |
| rights represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint |
____________________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer said rights on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated _________________________________________
| Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
|
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). |
The holder of this certificate shall have no right or interest of any kind in or to the funds held in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).
Exhibit 4.4
RIGHTS AGENCY AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGENCY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), between Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”), a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company, and VStock Transfer, LLC (the “Rights Agent”), a trust company incorporated under the laws of California.
WHEREAS, the Company has received a firm commitment from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“AGP”), as representative of the several underwriters, to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,900,000 units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 (“Class A Ordinary Share”) and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Class A Ordinary Share (a “Public Right”) upon the happening of the triggering event described herein, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 7,935,000 Public Rights upon consummation of such public offering, 1,035,000 of which are attributable to the over-allotment option (“Public Offering”);
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver an aggregate up to 299,000 rights (or 315,000 private rights if the over-allotment option is exercised in full by the underwriters) underlying private units (the “Private Rights”);
WHEREAS, the Company may issue up to an additional [____] Rights, which will be identical to the Private Rights, under additional private units in consideration of certain working capital loans that may be made by Blueport Acquisition Corporation, the Company’s sponsor, (together with the Public Rights, the Private Rights, and along with such other rights as the Company issues from time to time hereunder, the “Rights”);
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statements on Form S-1, No. 333-[____]( “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of, among other securities, the Public Rights and the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable to the holders of the Public Rights;
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Rights Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer and exchange of the Rights;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Rights, the terms upon which they shall be issued, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Rights Agent, and the holders of the Rights; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Rights, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Rights Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Rights, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. |
| 2. | Rights. |
| 2.1 | Form of Right. Each Right shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance. |
| 2.2 | Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Right shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exchanged for Class A Ordinary Shares. |
| 2.3 | Registration. |
| 2.3.1 | Rights Register. The Rights Agent shall maintain books (“Rights Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Rights Agent shall issue and register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company. |
| 2.3.2 | Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Right, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Right shall be registered upon the Right Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Right and of each Right represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Right Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent), for the purpose of the exchange thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. |
| 2.4 | Detachability of Rights. The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until the fifty-second (52nd) day after the date hereof unless AGP informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units begin until (i) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date hereof, and (ii) the Company issues a press release and files a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin. |
| 3. | Terms and Exchange of Rights. |
| 3.1 | Rights. Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-sixth of one Class A Ordinary Share upon the happening of the Exchange Event (described below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its Class A Ordinary Shares upon the Exchange Event as the purchase price for such Class A Ordinary Shares has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights or issue fractional Class A Ordinary Shares. |
| 3.2 | Exchange Event. The Exchange Event shall be the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time (“Amended and Restated Memorandum”)). |
| 3.3 | Exchange of Rights. |
| 3.3.1 | Issuance of Certificates. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of the Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Rights Agent. If the Company is not the surviving entity in a Business Combination, the holder of Rights must affirmatively elect to such conversion. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) a certificate or certificates for the number of full Class A Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of the Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Rights Agent to round down to the nearest whole Class A Ordinary Share or otherwise inform it how fractional shares will be addressed in accordance with Cayman Islands law. |
2
| 3.3.2 | Valid Issuance. All Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 3.3.3 | Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate. |
| 3.3.4 | Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. If the Exchange Event results in the Company not continuing as a publicly held reporting entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration as the holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares will receive in with the Exchange Event, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.1 above. |
| 3.4 | Duration of Rights. If the Business Combination has not been consummated within the applicable time period specified in the Amended and Restated Memorandum, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless. |
| 4. | Transfer and Exchange of Rights. |
| 4.1 | Registration of Transfer. The Rights Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Right upon the Right Register, upon surrender of such Right for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Right representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right shall be cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Rights so cancelled shall be delivered by the Rights Agent to the Company from time to time upon request. |
| 4.2 | Procedure for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Rights Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Rights Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Rights Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Rights Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Rights must also bear a restrictive legend. |
| 4.3 | Fractional Rights. The Rights Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Right Certificate for a fraction of a Right. |
| 4.4 | Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights. |
| 4.5 | Adjustments to Conversion Ratios. The number of Class A Ordinary Shares that the holders of Rights are entitled to receive as a result of the occurrence of an Exchange Event shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Exchange Event. |
3
| 4.6 | Right Execution and Countersignature. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required by the Rights Agent, will supply the Rights Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose. |
| 5. | Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights. |
| 5.1 | No Rights as Shareholder. Until exchange of a Right for Class A Ordinary Shares as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter. |
| 5.2 | Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Rights. If any Right is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Rights Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Right, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone. |
| 5.3 | Reservation of Class A Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement. |
| 6. | Concerning the Rights Agent and Other Matters. |
| 6.1 | Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Rights Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares. |
| 6.2 | Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Rights Agent. |
| 6.2.1 | Appointment of Successor Rights Agent. The Rights Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Rights Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Rights Agent in place of the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Rights Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Rights Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Rights Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Rights Agent with like effect as if originally named as Rights Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Rights Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Rights Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Rights Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Rights Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Rights Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations. |
4
| 6.2.2 | Notice of Successor Rights Agent. In the event a successor Rights Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Rights Agent and the transfer agent for the Class A Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment. |
| 6.2.3 | Merger or Consolidation of Rights Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Rights Agent under this Agreement without any further act. |
| 6.3 | Fees and Expenses of Rights Agent. |
| 6.3.1 | Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Rights Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Rights Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Rights Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Rights Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder. |
| 6.3.2 | Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement. |
| 6.4 | Liability of Rights Agent. |
| 6.4.1 | Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. |
| 6.4.2 | Indemnity. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Subject to Section 6.6, the Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Rights Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith. |
| 6.4.3 | Exclusions. The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Right (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any Class A Ordinary Shares will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 6.5 | Acceptance of Agency. The Rights Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth. |
5
| 6.6 | Waiver. The Rights Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Rights Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. This section shall survive any termination of this Agreement. |
| 7. | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
| 7.1 | Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns. |
| 7.2 | Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Rights Agent), as follows: |
if to the Rights Agent, to:
VStock Transfer, LLC
18 Lafayette Place
Woodmere, NY 11598
Attn: David Mansbach
Email: davidm@vstocktransfer.com
if to the Company, to:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Address: 366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention: William Rosenstadt
Telephone: 212-829-8937
E-mail: wsr@orllp.legal
in each case, with copies to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Giovanni Caruso, Esq.
Email: gcaruso@loeb.com
| 7.3 | Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by 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. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 7.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. |
6
| 7.4 | Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, AGP, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. AGP shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and AGP with respect to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights. |
| 7.5 | Examination of this Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Rights Agent for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Rights Agent may require any such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it. |
| 7.6 | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
| 7.7 | Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof. |
| 7.8 | Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect rights interest of the registered holders hereunder. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of AGP. |
| 7.9 | Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable. |
[Signature Page Follows]
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
| [________] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to the Rights Agreement]
8
EXHIBIT A
Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit 5.1

| Blueport Acquisition Ltd | D +852 3656 6054 |
| 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay | E nathan.powell@ogier.com |
| Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 | Reference: NMP/JTC/512168.00001 |
| Cayman Islands | 26 June 2025 |
Dear Sirs
Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the Company)
We have been requested to provide you with an opinion on matters of Cayman Islands law in relation to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), as amended (including its exhibits, the Registration Statement) related to the offering and sale of (the Offering):
| (i) | 6,900,000 units (each a Unit, and together, the Units), with each Unit consisting of (a) one class A ordinary share of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 each (the Class A Ordinary Shares) and (b) one right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-sixth of one Class A Ordinary Share upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the Rights); |
| (ii) | up to 1,035,000 Units (the Over-Allotment Units) which A.G.P/Alliance Global Partners, the representative of the underwriters of the Company will have a 45-day option from the date of the Registration Statement to purchase from the Company solely to cover over-allotments, if any; |
| (iii) | all Class A Ordinary Shares and all Rights issued as part of the Units and the Over-Allotment Units; and |
| (iv) | all Class A Ordinary Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Rights included in the Units and the Over-Allotment Units. |
This opinion is given in accordance with the terms of the legal matters section of the Registration Statement.
Ogier Providing advice on British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Guernsey laws
Floor 11 Central Tower 28 Queen's Road Central Central Hong Kong
T +852 3656 6000 F +852 3656 6001 ogier.com |
Partners Nicholas Plowman Nathan Powell Anthony Oakes Oliver Payne Kate Hodson David Nelson Justin Davis Joanne Collett Dennis Li |
Cecilia Li Rachel Huang** Yuki Yan** Florence Chan*‡ Richard Bennett**‡ James Bergstrom‡ |
* admitted in New Zealand ** admitted in England and Wales ‡ not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong |
A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.
| 1 | Documents examined |
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the corporate and other documents and conducted the searches listed in Schedule 1. We have not made any searches or enquiries concerning, and have not examined any documents entered into by or affecting the Company or any other person, save for the searches, enquiries and examinations expressly referred to in Schedule 1.
| 2 | Assumptions |
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in Schedule 2 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions.
| 3 | Opinions |
On the basis of the examinations and assumptions referred to above and subject to the qualifications set forth in Schedule 3 and the limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
Corporate status
| (a) | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the Registrar). |
Corporate power
| (b) | The Company has all requisite power under its Memorandum and Articles of Association (each as defined in Schedule 1) to offer and issue the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Rights), to execute and deliver the Documents (as defined in Schedule 1) and to perform its obligations, and exercise its rights, under the Documents. |
Corporate authorisation
| (c) | The Company has taken all requisite corporate action to authorise: |
| (i) | the offer and issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Rights); and |
| (ii) | the execution and delivery of the Documents and the performance of its obligations, and the exercise of its rights, under the Documents. |
2
The Class A Ordinary Shares
| (d) | The Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Units and the Over-allotment Units to be offered and issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Rights), when issued by the Company upon: |
| (i) | payment in full of the consideration as set out in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms set out in the Registration Statement, the underwriting agreement (as exhibited to the Registration Statement) and the rights documents comprising of the rights agreement and the rights certificate (as exhibited to the Registration Statement) and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company then in effect; and |
| (ii) | the entry of those Class A Ordinary Shares as fully paid on the register of members of the Company, shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
No litigation revealed
| (e) | Based solely on our investigation of the Register of Writs and Other Originating Process (Register of Writs), no litigation was pending in the Cayman Islands against the Company, nor had any petition been presented or order made for the winding up of or the appointment of a restructuring officer to the Company, as of the close of business on the business day in the Cayman Islands before our inspection. |
| 4 | Matters not covered |
We offer no opinion:
| (a) | as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction, and we express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Documents to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | except to the extent that this opinion expressly provides otherwise, as to the commercial terms of, or the validity, enforceability or effect of the Documents reviewed (or as to how the commercial terms of such Documents reflect the intentions of the parties), the accuracy of representations, the fulfilment of warranties or conditions, the occurrence of events of default or terminating events or the existence of any conflicts or inconsistencies among the Documents and any other agreements into which the Company may have entered or any other documents; or |
| (c) | as to whether the acceptance, execution or performance of the Company’s obligations under the Documents reviewed by us will result in the breach of or infringe any other agreement, deed or document (other than the Memorandum and Articles of Association) entered into by or binding on the Company. |
| 5 | Governing law of this opinion |
| 5.1 | This opinion is: |
| (a) | governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and |
| (c) | confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion. |
| 5.2 | Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion. |
| 6 | Who can rely on this opinion |
| 6.1 | We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and also consent to the reference to this firm in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters”. In the giving of our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder. |
3
Yours faithfully

Ogier
4
SCHEDULE 1
List of Documents Examined
| 1 | The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated 13 January 2025 issued by the Registrar. |
| 2 | The memorandum and articles of association of the Company dated 13 January 2025 filed with the Registrar (the Memorandum and Articles of Association). |
| 3 | The form of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company, effective immediately prior to the completion of the Offering. |
| 4 | A copy of the certificate of good standing dated 25 June 2025 issued by the Registrar in respect of the Company (the Good Standing Certificate). |
| 5 | The written resolutions of the sole director of the Company dated 16 May 2025 (the Board Resolutions). |
| 6 | Copies of: |
| (a) | the register of members of the Company provided to us on 22 May 2025 (the Register of Members); and |
| (b) | the register of directors of the Company provided to us on 22 May 2025 (the Register of Directors, together with the Register of Members, the Registers). |
| 7 | A certificate from a director of the Company dated 26 June 2025 as to certain matters of fact (the Director’s Certificate). |
| 8 | The Register of Writs maintained by the office of the Clerk of Courts in the Cayman Islands as inspected by us on 26 June 2025. |
| 9 | The Registration Statement. |
| 10 | A copy of the form of the unit certificate representing the Units and the Over-Allotment Units. |
| 11 | A copy of the form of the specimen certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (item 8 to item 11 are collectively referred to as the Documents). |
5
SCHEDULE 2
Assumptions
Assumptions of general application
| 1 | All original documents examined by us are authentic and complete. |
| 2 | All copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete. |
| 3 | All signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine. |
| 4 | Each of the Good Standing Certificate, the Director’s Certificate and the Registers is accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion. |
| 5 | The Documents have been or will be duly executed by all parties in materially the form as exhibited to the Registration Statement and in respect of the Company, in the manner authorised in the Board Resolutions. |
Status, authorisation and execution
| 6 | Each of the parties to the Documents other than the Company is duly incorporated, formed or organised (as applicable), validly existing and in good standing under all relevant laws. |
| 7 | In authorising the execution and delivery of the Documents by the Company, the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations under the Documents, the sole director of the Company has acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him. |
| 8 | Each Document has been or will be duly executed and unconditionally delivered by the Company in the manner authorised in the Board Resolutions. |
Enforceability
| 9 | None of the opinions expressed herein will be adversely affected by the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. In particular, but without limitation to the previous sentence: |
| (a) | the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands will not adversely affect the capacity or authority of the Company; and |
| (b) | neither the execution or delivery of the Documents nor the exercise by any party of its rights or the performance of its obligations under the Documents contravene those laws or public policies. |
Register of Writs
| 10 | The Register of Writs constitutes a complete and accurate record of the proceedings affecting the Company before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands as at the time we conducted our investigation of such register. |
6
SCHEDULE 3
Qualifications
Good Standing
| 1 | Under the Companies Act, annual returns in respect of the Company must be filed with the Registrar of Companies, together with payment of annual filing fees. A failure to file annual returns and pay annual filing fees may result in the Company being struck off the Register of Companies, following which its assets will vest in the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands and will be subject to disposition or retention for the benefit of the public of the Cayman Islands. |
| 2 | In good standing means only that as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate the Company is up-to-date with the filing of its annual returns and payment of annual fees with the Registrar of Companies. We have made no enquiries into the Company’s good standing with respect to any filings or payment of fees, or both, that it may be required to make under the laws of the Cayman Islands other than the Companies Act. |
Register of Writs
| 3 | Our examination of the Register of Writs cannot conclusively reveal whether or not there is: |
| (a) | any current or pending litigation in the Cayman Islands against the Company; or |
| (b) | any application for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the appointment of any liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy or restructuring officer in respect of the Company or any of its assets, as notice of these matters might not be entered on the Register of Writs immediately or updated expeditiously or the court file associated with the matter or the matter itself may not be publicly available (for example, due to sealing orders having been made). Furthermore, we have not conducted a search of the summary court. Claims in the summary court are limited to a maximum of CI $20,000. |
7
Exhibit 5.2
![]() |
345 Park Avenue |
Main Fax |
+1 212-407-4000 +1 212-407-4990 |
June 26, 2025
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
| Re: | Blueport Acquisition Ltd |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as U.S. counsel to Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to which this is an exhibit (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), covering an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of (i) 6,900,000 units (the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6th) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Rights”) ; (ii) up to 1,035,000 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) for which the underwriters have been granted an over-allotment option; (iii) all Ordinary Shares and Rights issued as part of the Units and Over-Allotment Units; and (iv) all Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights included in the Units and Over-Allotment Units.
We have examined such documents and considered such legal matters as we have deemed necessary and relevant as the basis for the opinion set forth below. With respect to such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproduced or certified copies, and the authenticity of the originals of those latter documents. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, to the extent deemed appropriate, relied upon certain representations of certain officers of the Company. Because the agreements governing the Units and the Rights contain provisions stating that they are to be governed by the laws of the State of New York, we are rendering this opinion as to New York law. We are admitted to practice in the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to any matters governed by any law other than the law of the State of New York. In particular, we do not purport to pass on any matter governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Rights (including the Rights issuable in connection with the Over-Allotment Units), the Units and the Over-Allotment Units, if and when paid for in accordance with the terms of the underwriting agreement between the Company and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, the representative of the underwriters in the Offering, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
In addition, the foregoing opinions are qualified to the extent that (a) enforceability may be limited by and be subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including, without limitation, concepts of notice and materiality), and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ and debtors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, any state or federal law in respect of fraudulent transfers); and (b) no opinion is expressed herein as to compliance with or the effect of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.
Los Angeles New York Chicago Nashville Washington, DC San Francisco Beijing Hong Kong www.loeb.com
For the United States offices, a limited liability partnership including professional corporations. For Hong Kong office, a limited liability partnership.
![]() |
Page 2 |
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as your U.S. counsel and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Loeb & Loeb LLP
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Exhibit 10.1
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners
590 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
| Re: | Initial Public Offering |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters named on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one right to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Ordinary Share (“Rights”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 15 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
| 1. | If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned (i) will vote all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from Ordinary Shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination), in favor of such Business Combination unless prohibited by law, rule or regulation and (ii) will not redeem any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. |
| 2. | Unless the Company’s shareholders are previously given the option to redeem their shares in connection with amending applicable documents to extend the time that the Company has to complete a Business Combination and that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the Company’s IPO, the undersigned shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (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, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
| 3. | Each of the Sponsor and Insiders agree (A) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop public shareholders from converting or selling their ordinary shares to the Company’s in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if it does not complete a business combination within 15 months from the closing of the IPO, unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (B) not to convert any Private Shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve the Company’s proposed initial Business Combination or a vote to amend the provisions of the Company’s post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (C) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. |
| 4. | [In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Fund, the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by any vendor or other person who is owed money by the Company for services rendered or products sold or contracted for, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Fund; provided, that such indemnity shall not apply if such vendor or other person has executed an agreement waiving any claims against the Trust Fund.]1 |
| 5. | 4. [In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining net assets are insufficient to complete such liquidation, the undersigned agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation and agrees not to seek recourse for such expenses.]2 |
| 6. | The undersigned agrees, to the extent applicable, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Insider Shares (except to certain Permitted Transferees), respectively, until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of the Business Combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of Business Combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial shares will be released from the Lock-Up if (1) the reported closing price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after the initial Business Combination or (2) the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after the initial Business Combination that results in all of its shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. However, the following transfers shall be permitted: |
Transfers are permitted (a) to the Company’s or AGP’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s or AGP’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any members or partners of the sponsor or their affiliates and funds and accounts advised by such members or partners, any affiliates of the sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement, in connection with an extension of the completion window or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or units were originally purchased; (f) pro rata distributions from the sponsor or AGP to its respective members, partners or shareholders pursuant to the Sponsor’s or AGP’s limited liability company agreement or other charter documents; (g) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor or upon dissolution of AGP; (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination; (i) in the event that, subsequent to consummation of an initial Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of its shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property or (j) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (g); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g) and clause (j) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements.
| 1 | NTD: Only include for Sponsor. |
| 2 | NTD: Only include for Sponsor. |
2
| 7. | The Sponsor agrees not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the Initial Shares as provided in clause 6 and provided that the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the Initial Shares must agree to, each as described above in clause 6) until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. |
| 8. | The undersigned further agree to i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Initial Shares, Private Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Initial Shares, Private Shares and Public Shares 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 our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if the Company have not consummated an initial Business Combination within the completion window or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their Initial Shares and Private Shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if the Company fails to complete its initial Business combination within the prescribed time frame; |
| 9. | In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the undersigned agrees to present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire a target business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations the undersigned might have. |
| 10. | The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with any Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, including any company that is a portfolio company of, or otherwise affiliated with, or has received financial investment from, an entity with which any Insider or their affiliates is affiliated, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. |
| 11. | The Company and the undersigned agrees that, except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the undersigned nor any of his, her or its affiliate shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, non-cash payments, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: (1) repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to the Company by the Sponsor under a promissory note dated February 28, 2025; (2) payment to the Sponsor of $10,000 per month for up to 15 months from the closing of the Company’s IPO for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; (3) repayment working capital loans which may be made by the undersigned or his, her or its affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination (the “Working Capital Loans”); and (4) reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the undersigned in connection with certain activities on the Company’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations; provided that if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such Working Capital Loans so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. Up to $[1,500,000] of the Working Capital Loans may be converted upon consummation of the Company’s business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Units to be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans as provided herein will be identical to the Private Units sold in the Company’s IPO, subject to certain restrictions and exceptions as described in the Prospectus. |
3
| 12. | Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive or accept a finder’s fee or any other compensation in the event the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned originates a Business Combination. |
| 13. | [The undersigned agrees to be a director/officer of the Company until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. The undersigned’s biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all material respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned’s biography and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.]3 The undersigned’s FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all material respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that: |
| (a) | He, she or it has never had a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him, her or it, or any partnership in which he or she was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) any corporation or business association of which he or she was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing; |
| (b) | He, she or it has never had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer been appointed by a court for his business or property, or any such partnership; |
| (c) | He, she or it has never been convicted of fraud in a civil or criminal proceeding; |
| (d) | He, she or it has never been convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses); |
| (e) | He, she or it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining or otherwise limiting him, her or it from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity; or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities laws; |
| (f) | He, she, or it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days his, her or its right to engage in any activity described in 10(e)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity; |
| (g) | He, she, or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; |
| (h) | He, she, or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; |
| (i) | He, she, or it has never been the subject of, or a party to, any Federal, State or foreign judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any Federal, State or foreign securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist order, or removal or prohibition order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; |
| 3 | NTD: Only remove for Sponsor. |
4
| (j) | He, she or it has never been the subject of, or party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member; |
| (k) | He, she or it has never been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities; |
| (l) | He, she or it was never subject to a final order of a state or foreign securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state or foreign authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state or foreign insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal or foreign banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct; |
| (m) | He, she or it has never been subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of the sale of the Units, restrained or enjoined him, her or it from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities; |
| (n) | He, she or it has never been subject to any order of the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions that orders him, her or it to cease and desist from committing or causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based anti-fraud provision of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 15(c) and Section 206(1) of the Advisers Act or any other rule or regulation thereunder; or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act; |
| (o) | He, she or it has never filed (as a registrant or issuer), or been named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC that was the subject of a refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently, the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued; |
| (p) | He, she or it has never been subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property through the mail by means of false representations; |
| (q) | He, she or it is not subject to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that bars the undersigned from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer; (ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities; |
| (r) | He, she or it is not subject to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) that: (i) suspends or revokes the undersigned’s registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) places limitations on the activities, functions or operations of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person; or (iii) bars the undersigned from being associated with any entity or from participating in the offering of any penny stock; and |
| (s) | He, she or it has never been suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization (e.g., a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. |
| 14. | [The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to serve as a Director and/or officer of the Company.]4 |
| 15. | The undersigned hereby waives his, her or its right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any Ordinary Shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly (or to sell such shares to the Company in a tender offer), whether purchased by the undersigned prior to the IPO, in the IPO or in the aftermarket, and agrees that he, she or it will not seek redemption with respect to or otherwise sell, such shares in connection with any vote to approve a Business Combination with respect thereto, a vote to amend the provisions of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, or a tender offer by the Company prior to a Business Combination. |
| 16. | The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company offers holders of IPO Shares the right to receive their pro rata portion of the funds then held in the Trust Fund. |
| 4 | NTD: Only remove for Sponsor |
5
| 17. | In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators. |
| 18. | As used herein, (i) a “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, contractual arrangement, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Insiders” shall mean all officers, directors and shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) “Insider Shares” shall mean all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) “IPO Shares” or “Public Shares’ shall mean the Ordinary Shares issued in the Company’s IPO as part of the Units; (v) “Initial Shares” means the 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares initially issued to the sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering (including up to an aggregate of 258,750 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part) (vi) “Private Units” shall mean (x) the Units purchased in the private placement taking place simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s IPO, (y) the additional Units that may be purchased in connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriters in the IPO as described in the Registration Statement, and/or (z) the Units converted upon consummation of the Company’s Business Combination from Working Capital Loans that may be made to the Company by the undersigned; in each case including Ordinary Shares underlying the Private Units; (vii) “Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with respect to the IPO; (viii) “Trust Fund” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s IPO will be deposited; and (ix) “Private Shares” means the ordinary shares included in the Private Units; |
| 19. | Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this letter 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 Representative:
A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners
590 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn.: Thomas J. Higgins
Email: thiggins@alliganceg.com
with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
One Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3852
Attn: Robert H. Cohen, Esq.
Email: rcohen@mwe.com
6
If to the Company:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: William Rosenstadt, Chief Executive Officer
Email: wsr@orllp.legal
with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attn.: Giovanni Caruso, Esq
E-mail: gcaruso@loeb.com
| 20. | No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This letter agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and any successors and assigns thereof. |
| 21. | This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto and the Representative. |
| 22. | The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render the Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof. |
[Signature pages follow]
7
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
8
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [•], 2025, by and between Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. [_____] (the “Registration Statement”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one right, each right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-sixth (1/6) of 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 (the “SEC”); and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, $69,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $79,350,000 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units 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, the holders of the Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Offering and the Underwriters 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, the Company and the Underwriters will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $1,380,000, or $1,587,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will 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 in the United States at Wilmington Trust, National Association.
1
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, (i) invest and reinvest the Property 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 180 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 non-interest bearing demand deposit account at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory as determined by 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 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 Representative 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 tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation 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;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and within two business days following (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 an Authorized Representative (as such term is defined below), 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 and not previously released to the Company to pay any taxes (net of any taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) 15 months after the closing of the Offering 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 and/or restated from time to time, the “Articles”), if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated 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 and not previously released to the Company to pay any taxes (net of any taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date; provided, however, that in the event the Trustee receives a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to Exhibit B hereto, or if the Trustee begins to liquidate the Property because it has received no such Termination Letter by the date specified in clause (y) of this Section 1(i), the Trustee shall keep the Trust Account open until twelve (12) months following the date the Property has been distributed to the Public Shareholders;
2
(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 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, as applicable; 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 initially deposited in the Trust Account; 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 from the applicable tax authorities 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;
(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 to 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 Articles to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public Ordinary Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Articles. 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) Only release the Property in accordance with a written instruction, signed by an Authorized Representative (as such term is defined below) of the Company substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, B, C or D, as applicable, attached hereto (each, a “Written Direction” and collectively, the “Written Direction”); and
(m) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (k) 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 an Authorized Representative (as such term is defined below) of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 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;
(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket 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”), provided, that no failure or delay by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall relieve the Company from its obligations under this Agreement, except as and to the extent it is found, in a final, unappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, that such failure or delay actually and materially prejudiced the Company. 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 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 Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company may participate in any such action with its own counsel and at its sole cost and expense;
3
(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(k) 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), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (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 Representative 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) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Representative, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representative prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person;
(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;
(h) Designate, on an incumbency certificate delivered to Trustee on the date hereof (the “Incumbency Certificate”), its authorized representatives for purposes of this Agreement (each such individual, an “Authorized Representative” of the Company), which shall certify that the title, contact information and specimen signature of each such Authorized Representative as set forth therein is true and correct; and
(i) Amend, at any time, the Incumbency Certificate by signing and submitting to the Trustee an amended Incumbency Certificate, which shall be effective upon receipt by the Trustee of such amendment.
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 third 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;
4
(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 Written Direction, order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, 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 be deemed to be acting with reasonable care with respect to any Written Direction if it takes such action in conformity with its standard procedures for confirming instructions for wires applicable to the Company. 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 or any other filings made by the Company with the SEC;
(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, 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.
5
The Company also agrees that the Trustee will only be responsible for direct damages, and not for any type of indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages, even if the Trustee is aware of the potential for such damages.
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; or
(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).
(c) If the Offering is not consummated within ten (10) business days of the date of this Agreement or such later time agreed by the Company and the Trustee, then any funds received by the Trustee from the Company or Blueport Acquisition Corporation, a Nevada corporation and sponsor of the Company, as applicable, shall be returned promptly following the receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth herein 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.
6
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 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) through (m) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares, of the Company; provided that no such amendment will affect any shareholder of the Company who has validly elected 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; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification to Section 1(i) or 2(f) or Exhibit A may be made without the prior written consent of the Representative.
(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 facsimile transmission or by email:
if to the Trustee, to:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
213 Market Street, 2nd Fl
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Attn: Amy Kohr
akohr@wilmingtontrust.com
in each case, with copies to:
if to the Company, to:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention: William Rosenstadt
Telephone: 212-829-8937
E-mail: wsr@orllp.legal
in each case, with copies to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Giovanni Caruso, Esq.
Email: gcaruso@loeb.com
(f) This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
7
(g) 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.
(h) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(i) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
(j) In the event that any Property shall be attached, garnished or levied upon by any court order, or the delivery thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of a court, or any order, judgment or decree shall be made or entered by any court order affecting the Property, the Trustee is hereby expressly authorized, in its reasonable discretion, to comply with all writs, orders or decrees so entered or issued, or which it is advised by legal counsel of its own choosing is binding upon it. In the event that the Trustee obeys or complies with any such writ, order or decree it shall not be liable to any of the Parties or to any other person, firm or corporation, should, by reason of such compliance notwithstanding, such writ, order or decree be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
(k) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligation under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; wars; acts of terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemic; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental action (any such event, a “Force Majeure Event”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for purposes of all services provided pursuant to this Agreement (the “Services”), Trustee shall continuously maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans (including regular updates) that are consistent with then-current industry standards applicable to similarly situated providers of services comparable to the Services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the business continuity and/or disaster recovery plans will cover the computer software, computer hardware, telecommunications capabilities and other similar or related items of automated, computerized, software system(s) and network(s) or system(s) and will be designed, among other things, to permit the ongoing operation and functionality of the Services on a continuous basis and/or to facilitate the continuation and/or resumption of, the Services. In the event of disruption in the Services for any reason including the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event that causes Trustee to be required to allocate limited resources between or among Trustee’s affected customers, Trustee shall not do so in a manner that is intended to treat the Company less favorably than other similarly situated affected customers generally. In addition, in the event Trustee has knowledge that there is, or has been, an incident affecting the integrity or availability of Trustee’s business continuity and disaster recovery system (the “System”), Trustee shall endeavor to notify the Company in writing, as promptly as practicable, of the incident.
(l) The Trustee shall be entitled to consult with legal counsel in the event that a question or dispute arises with regard to the construction of any of the provisions hereof, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
[Signature Page Follows]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | |||
| Blueport Acquisition Ltd | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| TRUSTEE: | |||
| Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
9
SCHEDULE A
Fee Schedule
Trust Services
Acceptance Fee:
Waived
Initial Fees as they relate to Wilmington Trust acting in the capacity of Trustee and includes review of the Investment Management/Trustee Agreement; acceptance of the Trustee appointment; setting up of the Trust Account(s) and associated records; and coordination of receipt of funds, if any, for deposit to the Trust Account(s). Acceptance Fee payable at time of Trust Agreement execution
Trustee - Administration Fee
$ per annum
For review and execution of SPAC trust agreement, including KYC review and onboarding; reporting; investment management of SPAC proceeds; dissolution of SPAC trust and distribution of proceeds to transfer agent and/or investors; and other ongoing administrative services as required.
| Out-of-Pocket Expenses: | If any, Billed At Cost |
10
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Wilmington Trust, National Association
213 Market Street, 2nd Fl
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Attn: Amy Kohr
akohr@wilmingtontrust.com
Re: Trust Account No. Termination Letter
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association (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 business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “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 on [insert date], and to transfer proceeds to the account of the paying agent specified by the Company 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 the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust account at [•] awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, (the “Notification”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 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 Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in 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.
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, | |||
| Company | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| cc: |
11
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Wilmington Trust, National Association
213 Market Street, 2nd Fl
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Attn: Amy Kohr
akohr@wilmingtontrust.com
Re: Trust Account No. Termination Letter
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Trustee”), dated as of ___, 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a 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 may be amended and/or restated from time to time), as described in the Company’s Registration Statement 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 on ___________ and to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [•] as the record date for the purpose of determining the Public Shareholders entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. 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(i) of the Trust Agreement.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| Company | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| cc: |
12
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Wilmington Trust, National Association
213 Market Street, 2nd Fl
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Attn: Amy Kohr
akohr@wilmingtontrust.com
Re: Trust Account No. Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association (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, | |||
| Company | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| cc: |
13
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Wilmington Trust, National Association
213 Market Street, 2nd Fl
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Attn: Amy Kohr
akohr@wilmingtontrust.com
Re: Trust Account No. Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Trustee”), dated as of ___, 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to 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 (as may be amended and/or restated from time to time), to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public Ordinary Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as may be amended and/or restated from time to time). 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, | |||
| Company | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| cc: |
14
Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [______], 2025, by and among Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), Blueport Acquisition Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Sponsor”), and each of the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “Investors” (each such party, together with the Sponsor, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, an aggregate of 1,983,750 ordinary shares (“Founder Shares”), par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) were issued to the Sponsor, of which an aggregate of up to 258,750 shares are subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) is not exercised in full or in part;
WHEREAS, the Founder Shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement (the “Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 299,000 units (or up to 315,000 units depending on the extent to which the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s IPO is exercised) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s IPO;
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with its search for and consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Sponsor, its affiliates or any of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $[1,500,000] of such loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent units (“Working Capital Loan Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Investors certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” means any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Form S-3” is defined in Section 2.3.
“Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Initial Shares” means all of the outstanding Ordinary Shares issued prior to the consummation of the Company’s IPO.
“Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.
“Lock-up Period” shall mean, (A) with respect to the Initial Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; or (2) the date following the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination on which it completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of its shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Initial Shares will be released from the Lock-up Period if (1) the reported closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 90 days after its initial Business Combination or (2) the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after its initial Business Combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property; (B) with respect to the Private Units and the Working Capital Loan Units, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.
“Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.
“Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.
“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 each.
“Private Units” means up to 315,000 Units, 299,000 of which the Sponsor is privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s IPO and up to 16,000 Units that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option.
“Register,” “Registered” and “Registration” mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
2
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Initial Shares, (ii) the Private Units (and underlying securities), and (iii) Working Capital Loan Units (as defined below). Registrable Securities include any warrants, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Initial Shares, Private Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), and Working Capital Loan Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares). As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 without volume limitations.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Sponsor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Units” means the units of the Company, each comprised of one Ordinary Share, and one right to acquire one-sixth (1/6) of one Ordinary Share.
“Working Capital Loan Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after (i) the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination with respect to the Private Units and Working Capital Loan Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares) or (ii) three months prior to the end of the Lock-up Period with respect to all other Registrable Securities, the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, held by the Investors or their affiliates, or the transferees of the Investors, may make a written demand, on no more than two occasions, for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify, in writing, all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, with ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of such demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisions set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.
3
2.1.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
2.1.5 Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Demand Registration as provided in Section 3.3.
4
2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2.2, the Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:
a) If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;
b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
5
2.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time, request in writing that the Company register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration which may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering. Upon receipt of such written request, the Company will promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $[____]. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in this provision more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.
3.1.2 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus), and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.
6
3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.
3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.
3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.
3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate in all reasonable respects in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.
7
3.1.8 Records. The Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.
3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. In the case of any underwritten offering or if reasonably requested by any participant in any other offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall obtain opinions of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of a registration pursuant to this Agreement, addressed to the holders participating in such registration, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to such registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as such holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. In the case of any underwritten offering or if reasonably requested by any participant in any other offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall obtain a “cold comfort” letters from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an underwritten public offering pursuant to this Agreement, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter.
3.1.10 Earnings Statement. The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
3.1.11 Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.
3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters in any underwritten offering.
3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company’s Board, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
8
3.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration; (x) preparing and printing stock certificates and warrant certificates; (xi) the costs of any “due diligence” meetings; (xi) transfer taxes; and (xii) all fees related to transfer and rights agent and registrar fees. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.
3.4 Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws.
4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, principals, shareholders and members, attorneys and agents, their successors and assignees, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.
4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.
9
4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.
4.4 Contribution.
4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
10
4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.
4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
5. RULE 144.
5.1 Rule 144. The Company covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to (A) whether the Company has filed (i) all reports and other materials required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K and (ii) current “Form 10 information” (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) with the Commission reflecting the Company’s status as an entity that is no longer an issuer described in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (B) the first date that the Company filed “Form 10 information” (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) with the Commission.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
6.1 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that, except as disclosed in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. _______), no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any of the Company’s share capital for sale or to include the Company’s share capital in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of share capital for its own account or for the account of any other person.
6.2 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2. Any additional holder of Registrable Securities may become party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a joinder to the Company and the Sponsor in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
6.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.
11
To the Company:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: William Rosenstadt, Chief Executive Officer
| Email:wsr@orllp.legal.com |
with a copy to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New
York, NY 10154
Attention: Giovanni Caruso, Esq.
Email: gcaruso@loeb.com
To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto.
6.4 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.
6.7 Modifications and Amendments. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Company unless executed in writing by the Company. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the holders of the Registrable Securities unless executed in writing by the holders of the majority Registrable Securities.
6.8 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.
6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.
6.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
12
6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The venue for any action taken with respect to the Agreement shall be any state or federal court in New York County in the State of New York.
6.12 Waiver of Trial by Jury. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to a trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or other proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of, connected with or relating to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the actions of the Investor in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement hereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| INVESTORS: | ||
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
14
EXHIBIT A
Name and Address of Initial Shareholders
To all Initial Shareholders:
Blueport Acquisition Corporation
c/o
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: William Rosenstad, Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 10.4
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of ______, 2025, by and between Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), having its principal executive office at 366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor , New York, NY 10017, and Blueport Acquisition Corporation, a Nevada corporation(the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell on a private placement basis (the “Offering”) an aggregate of up to 299,000 units (the “Initial Units”) of the Company, and up to an additional 16,000 units (“Additional Units” and together with the Initial Units, the “Units”) of the Company in the event that the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option (“Over-Allotment Option”) in the Offering is exercised in full or part, each Unit comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) and one right (the “Right”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-sixth (1/6) of one Ordinary Share (the “Right Shares”) to be governed by the Rights Agreement (defined herein).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the 299,000 Initial Units and up to 16,000 Additional Units and the Company wishes to accept such subscription.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Subscribe
1.1 Purchase and Issuance of the Units. For the aggregate sum of $2,990,000 (the “Initial Purchase Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) 299,000 Initial Units at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase up to an additional 16,000 Additional Units at $10.00 per Additional Unit for a purchase price of up to $160,000 (the “Additional Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and issuance of the Additional Units shall occur only in the event that the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is exercised. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.2 Closing. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Units shall take place at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, NY 10154, simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) of 6,900,000 units (or 7,935,000 units if the underwriter’s over-allotment is exercised in full) consisting of Ordinary Shares and Rights and the purchase and sale of the Additional Units shall take place upon the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (each a “Closing Date”).
1.3 Delivery of the Purchase Price. At least one business day prior to the effective date of the Company’s registration statement relating to the IPO as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. _________) (“Registration Statement”), or the date of the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, if any, the Purchaser agrees to deliver the Initial Purchase Price or Additional Purchase Price, as the case may be, by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars to accounts designated by the Company, including to the trust account (the “Trust Account”) with Wilmington Trust, National Association acting as trustee, in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. If the IPO is not consummated within 45 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Initial Purchase Price shall be returned to the Purchaser by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars, without interest or deduction.
1.4 Delivery of Unit Certificate. Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive a unit certificate representing the Units purchased hereunder.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. It understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Rights, the Right Shares or the Ordinary Shares underlying the Units (excluding the Right Shares, the “Unit Shares” and, collectively with the Units, and the Right Shares, the “Securities”).
2.2 Organization. It is an exempted company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3 Private Offering. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) under the Securities Act. It acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “Accredited Investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
2.4 Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP is not acting as counsel or providing legal advice to Purchaser.
2.7 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, it has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. It understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2
2.8 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9 No Advertisements. It is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting.
2.10 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Units, the Shares and the Rights shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities, except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and such laws which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, is available.
2.11 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. It is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of his investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
2.12 Investment Purposes. It is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and it has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity.
2.13 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. It agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination (defined below) of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions. In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it will be executing an insider letter and lockup agreement with the Company and A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners as underwriters’ representative, further restricting the Purchaser’s ability and rights to transfer any Securities.
3
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
3.1 Valid Issuance of Share Capital. The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is 450,000,000 Ordinary Shares. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 1,983,750 ordinary shares (of which up to 258,750 ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement related to the IPO) and has not issued any preference shares. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
3.2 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the rights agreement to be entered into with Vstock Transfer, LLC on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Rights Agreement”) and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as the case may be, each of the Rights and the Ordinary Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units and the Right Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, the Rights Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Right Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and pursuant to the insider letter to be entered into on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Insider Letter”) and (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3 Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4 Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Rights and Rights Agreement, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Units, the Rights, or the Ordinary Shares underlying the Units, or Rights in accordance with the terms hereof.
4
4. Legends
4.1 Legend. The Company will issue the Units, the Rights and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Right Shares, purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. The Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD (THE “COMPANY”), BLUEPORT ACQUISITION CORPORATION AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT REFERENCED ABOVE) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
4.2 Purchaser’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3 Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
4.4 Registration Rights. The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
5. Lockup
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Units, the Rights, the Unit Shares and the Right Shares shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of an acquisition, share exchange, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), except to permitted transferees (as defined in the Insider Letter).
6. Securities Laws Restrictions
The Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction complies with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
7. Waiver of Distributions from Trust Account
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions from the Trust Account.
5
8. Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1 Rescission Waiver. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “Claims”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2 No Recourse Against Trust Account. The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future.
8.3 Section 8 Waiver. The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9. Terms of the Unit
The Units shall be substantially identical to the Units offered in the IPO as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, except the Units: (i) will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein, and (ii) are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11. Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3 Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4 Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
6
12. Notices; Indemnity
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
12.2 Indemnification. Except as set forth in Section 8, each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14. Survival; Severability
14.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15. Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16. Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
7
This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Accepted and agreed this ____day of ____, 2025. | ||
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
8
Exhibit 10.5
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into effective as of [________], 2025 (“Agreement”), by and between Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Company”), and the undersigned indemnitee (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other laws, rules and regulations being promulgated have increased the potential for liability of officers and directors;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (“Board”) has determined that the ability to attract and retain such persons is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to obligate itself contractually to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that such persons will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be adequately indemnified;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto and shall neither be deemed to be a substitute therefor nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be indemnified according to the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of [_____], 2025, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
1.1 “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the date hereof of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after the date hereof (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a person who is an officer or director of the Company on the date hereof (and any of such person’s affiliates), is or becomes “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which (A) members of the Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter or (B) the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction do not continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board.
1.2 “Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company. In addition, service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such enterprise and (A) such enterprise is or at the time of such service was an affiliate of the Company, (B) such enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or an affiliate of the Company or (C) the Company or an affiliate of the Company directly or indirectly caused Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity
1.3 “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
1.4 “Expenses” means all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs (including trial and appeals), transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.
Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
1.5 “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any other matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. Except as provided in the first sentence of Section 9.3 hereof, Independent Counsel shall be selected by (a) the Disinterested Directors or (b) a committee of the Board consisting of two or more Disinterested Directors or if (a) and (b) above are not possible, then by a majority of the full Board.
1.6 “Proceeding” means any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether conducted by or on behalf of the Company or any other party, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement.
2. Services by Indemnitee.
Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, officer or employee of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law).
3. Indemnification - General.
Except with respect to actions finally adjudicated to be a result of actual fraud or intentional misconduct of the Indemnitee, the Company shall indemnify, and, subject to Section 26 hereof, advance Expenses to, Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and to such greater extent as any amendment to or interpretation of applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections of this Agreement.
2
4. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Agreement if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, was or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Agreement, subject to Section 26 hereof, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with any such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, in no event shall Indemnitee be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or advanced any amounts hereunder in respect of any Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if any) that Indemnitee may incur by reason of his or her own actual fraud or intentional misconduct. Indemnitee shall not be found to have committed actual fraud or intentional misconduct for any purpose of this Agreement unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
5. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Agreement if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he was or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Agreement, subject to Section 26 hereof, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against amounts paid in settlement and Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with the defense or settlement of any such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification under this paragraph shall be made in respect of (1) a threatened or pending Proceeding which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought, was brought or is pending, shall determine, upon application, that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and Expenses as the court deems proper.
6. Indemnification for Expenses of Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 26 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses (and, when eligible hereunder, amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses (and, when eligible hereunder, amount paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “successful, on the merits or otherwise,” includes, but is not limited to, (i) any termination, withdrawal, or dismissal (with or without prejudice) of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee without any express finding of liability or guilt against him, and (ii) the expiration of 90 days after the making of any claim or threat of a Proceeding without the institution of the same and without any promise or payment made to induce a settlement.
7. Indemnification for Expenses as a Witness.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 26 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
3
8. Advancement of Expenses and Other Amounts.
Subject to Section 26 hereof, the Company shall advance all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and, when eligible hereunder, amounts paid in settlement, incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement, incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an agreement by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and, when eligible hereunder, amounts paid in settlement. In connection with any request for advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement, Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. The Company’s obligation in respect of the advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with a criminal Proceeding in which Indemnitee is a defendant shall terminate at such time as Indemnitee pleads guilty or is convicted after trial and such conviction becomes final and no longer subject to appeal. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay such amounts and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.
9. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
9.1 To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in connection with any Proceeding, and for the duration thereof, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The officer of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of any such request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
9.2 Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in such case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (unless Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board or the shareholders, in which case in the manner provided for in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this Section 9.2) in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, at the election of the Company, (A) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (B) if a quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable, by a majority of a committee of the Board consisting of two or more Disinterested Directors, or (C) by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) by the shareholders of the Company, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of shareholders who are not parties to the proceeding, or if no such quorum is obtainable, by a majority vote of shareholders who are not parties to such proceeding; or (iii) as provided in Section 10.2 of this Agreement. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
4
9.3 If a Change of Control shall have occurred, Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee (or the Board, as the case may be) shall give written notice to the other party advising it of the identity of Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written objection is made, Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction, for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 9.2 hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with its actions pursuant to this Agreement, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 9.3, regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement date of any judicial proceeding pursuant to Section 11.1(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
10. Presumptions and Effects of Certain Proceedings.
10.1 In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9.1 of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
10.2 If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 9 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith require(s) such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2 shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the shareholders pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement and if (A) within 15 days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the shareholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of shareholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement. In connection with each meeting at which a shareholder determination will be made, the Company shall solicit proxies that expressly include a proposal to indemnify or reimburse the Indemnitee. The Company shall afford the Indemnitee ample opportunity to present evidence of the facts upon which the Indemnitee relies for indemnification in any Company proxy statement relating to such shareholder determination. Subject to the fiduciary duties of its members under applicable law, the Board will not recommend against indemnification or reimbursement in any proxy statement relating to the proposal to indemnify or reimburse the Indemnitee.
5
10.3 The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
10.4 For purposes of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, if his action is based on (i) the records or books of account of the Company, or another enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to him by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise, or of an independent certified public accountant or an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which the Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent. The provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth herein. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.4 are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
10.5 The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
11. Remedies of Indemnitee.
11.1 In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within thirty (30) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 9 or 10 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of New York, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines or, when eligible hereunder, amounts paid in settlement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.
11.2 In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
11.3 If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 9 or 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
11.4 The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
6
11.5 In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section, seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other agreement, including any other indemnification, contribution or advancement agreement, or any provision of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association now or hereafter in effect, or for recovery under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all expenses (of the kinds described in the definition of Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, but only if he prevails therein. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication that Indemnitee is entitled to receive less than all of the indemnification or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication shall be appropriately prorated. In addition, the Company shall, if so requested by Indemnitee, advance the foregoing expenses to Indemnitee, subject to and in accordance with Section 8.
12. Procedure Regarding Indemnification.
With respect to any Proceedings, the Indemnitee, prior to taking any action with respect to such Proceeding, shall consult with the Company as to the procedure to be followed in defending, settling, or compromising the Proceeding and may not consent to any settlement or compromise of the Proceeding without the written consent of the Company (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Company shall be entitled to participate in defending, settling or compromising any Proceeding and to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel of its choice and shall assume such defense if requested by the Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the election by, or obligation of, the Company to assume the defense of a Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall have the right to participate in the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been authorized in writing by the Company, or (ii) the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to him which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which latter case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the Indemnitee), in either of which events the fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Indemnitee shall be borne by the Company. If the Company assumes the defense of a Proceeding, then counsel for the Company and Indemnitee shall keep Indemnitee reasonably informed of the status of the Proceeding and promptly send to Indemnitee copies of all documents filed or produced in the Proceeding, and the Company shall not compromise or settle any such Proceeding without the written consent of the Indemnitee (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) if the relief provided shall be other than monetary damages and shall promptly notify the Indemnitee of any settlement and the amount thereof.
13. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation; Contribution.
13.1 The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be effective as to any Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association or this Agreement, then this Agreement (without any further action by the parties hereto) shall automatically be deemed to be amended to require that the Company indemnifies the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
7
13.2 To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
13.3 In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are reasonably necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
13.4 The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
13.5 If a determination is made that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, after Indemnitee submits a written request therefor, under this Agreement, then in respect of any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liability with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by the Indemnitee in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Indemnitee on the other hand from the transaction from which Proceeding arose, and (ii) the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnitee on the other hand in connection with the events that resulted in such Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnitee on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement. The Company agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take into account the foregoing equitable considerations. The determination as to the amount of the contribution, if any, shall be made by: (i) a court of competent jurisdiction upon the application of both the Indemnitee and the Company (if the Proceeding had been brought in, and final determination had been rendered by such court); (ii) the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors; or (iii) Independent Counsel, if a quorum is not obtainable for purpose of (ii) above, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs.
14. Duration of Agreement.
This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, or (b) the final termination of all pending Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement hereunder and or any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his spouse, heirs, executors, personal representatives and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
8
15. Severability.
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
16. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and the Indemnitee with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understanding, negotiations and discussion, both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to such subject matter (the “Prior Agreements”); provided, however, that if this Agreement shall ever be held void or unenforceable for any reasons whatsoever, and is not reformed pursuant to Section 15 hereof, then (i) this Agreement shall not be deemed to have superseded any Prior Agreements; (ii) all of such Prior Agreements shall be deemed to be in full force and effect notwithstanding the execution of this Agreement; and (iii) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to maximum indemnification benefits provided under any Prior Agreements, as well as those provided under applicable law, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, a vote of shareholders or resolution of directors.
17. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses.
17.1 Except as provided in Section 11.5, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim therein, brought or made by him against the Company.
17.2 Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim therein, arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or Company similar successor statute.
18. Covenant Not to Sue; Limitation of Actions; Release of Claims.
No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) against the Indemnitee, his spouse, heirs, executors, personal representatives or administrators after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of accrual of such cause of action and any claim or cause of action of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the filing of a legal action within such two (2) year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitation is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such shorter period shall govern.
19. Identical Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
20. Headings.
The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
21. Modification and Waiver.
No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
9
22. Notice by Indemnitee.
Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement covered hereunder. The failure to notify the Company on a timely basis shall not constitute a waiver of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, except to the extent that such failure or delay (i) causes the amounts paid or to be paid by the Company to be greater than they otherwise would have been, (ii) adversely affects the Company’s ability to obtain for itself or Indemnitee coverage or proceeds under any insurance policy available to the Company or Indemnitee, or (iii) otherwise results in prejudice to the Company.
23. Notices.
All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom such notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
If to Indemnitee, to:
[ ]
[ ]
If to the Company, to:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
366 Madison Ave 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention: William Rosenstadt
or to such other address or such other person as Indemnitee or the Company shall designate in writing in accordance with this Section, except that notices regarding changes in notices shall be effective only upon receipt.
24. Governing Law.
The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and performed in that state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the federal courts within the State for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding that arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agrees that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and any New York State court within that District.
25. Mutual Acknowledgment.
Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that, in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future in certain circumstances to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
26. Waiver of Claims to Trust Account.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided hereto will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account to satisfy its obligations hereunder or (ii) the Company consummates a Business Combination.
27. Miscellaneous.
Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
[Signature Page Follows]
10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| INDEMNITEE | ||
| Name: | ||
[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
Administration Service Agreement
This Administration Service Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated this [___] day of [____], 2025 is between Blueport Acquisition Corporation, herein referred to as “Service Provider” and Blueport Acquisition Ltd, herein referred to as “Customer”.
Service Provider has agreed to provide services to the Customer on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement, while Customer is of the opinion that Service Provider has the proper and necessary qualifications, experience and abilities to provide services to Customer.
Therefore in consideration of the matters described above, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the Customer and the Service Provider agree as follows:
1. Scope of Work
The Service Provider is to provide the Customer with the following services (the “Services”): Company Administration, office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the Customer’s management team.
The services will include any other tasks which the Customer and the Service Provider may agree on.
2. Term of Agreement
This Agreement will begin on [____], 2025 and will remain in full force and effect for up to 15 months. This Agreement may be extended by mutual written agreement of the parties.
3. Termination
If either party seeks termination of this Agreement, the terminating party must provide a 30 days written notice to the other party.
4. Compensation
The Customer will provide compensation to the Service Provider of US$10,000 per month for the services rendered by the Service Provider as required by this Agreement. Compensation is payable at the completion of services; provided, however, that the Company may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company that the Company lacks sufficient funds held outside of the Trust Account (as defined below) to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with an initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount shall accrue without interest and either be due and payable no later than the date of the Company’s initial business combination. If the Company does not consummate an initial business combination, any accrued and unpaid amounts hereunder shall be forgiven. The Service Provider hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) to be established upon the consummation of the IPO (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
5. Governing Law
This agreement constitutes the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have duly affixed their signatures under hand on this [__] day of [______] 2025.
| Blueport Acquisition Ltd | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | CEO | |
| Blueport Acquisition Corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | William Rosenstadt | |
| Title: | CEO | |
Exhibit 10.7
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD
Blueport Acquisition Corporation
| RE: | Securities Subscription Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 28, 2025 by and between Blueport Acquisition Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Subscriber” or “you”), and Blueport Acquisition Ltd, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability (the “Company,” “we” or “us”). Pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company hereby accepts the offer the Subscriber has made to purchase 1,983,750 Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), up to 258,750 of which are subject to forfeiture by you if the underwriters of the initial public offering (“IPO”) of units (“Units”) of the Company, do not fully exercise their over-allotment option (the “Over-allotment Option”). The Company and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Shares are as follows:
| 1. | Purchase of Securities. |
1.1 Purchase of Shares. For the sum of $25,000.00 (the “Purchase Price”), which the Company acknowledges receiving in cash, the Company hereby issues the Shares to the Subscriber, and the Subscriber hereby purchases the Shares from the Company, subject to forfeiture, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Concurrently with the Subscriber’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Subscriber a certificate registered in the Subscriber’s name representing the shares (the “Original Certificate”), or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
| 2. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements. |
2.1 Subscriber’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Company to issue the Shares to the Subscriber, the Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company and agrees with the Company as follows:
2.1.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of the Shares.
2.1.2 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the formation and governing documents of the Subscriber, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.
2.1.3 Organization and Authority. The Subscriber is a Nevada corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.1.4 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Shares and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time because the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act (as defined below) and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Shares are sold pursuant to: (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Shares and to afford a complete loss of Subscriber’s investment in the Shares.
1
2.1.5 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Subscriber has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, Subscriber has relied solely on Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon Subscriber’s own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. Subscriber understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and Subscriber has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.1.6 Regulation D Offering. Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under state law.
2.1.7 Investment Purposes. The Subscriber is purchasing the Shares solely for investment purposes, for the Subscriber’s own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof. The Subscriber did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act.
2.1.8 Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company. Subscriber understands the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. Subscriber understands the Shares will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, and Subscriber understands that the certificates or book-entries representing the Shares will contain a legend in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Shares, such Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only pursuant to: (i) registration under the Securities Act, or (ii) an available exemption from registration. Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Shares or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, Subscriber may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or an exemption, the Subscriber agrees not to resell the Shares. Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for the resale of the Shares until one year following consummation of the initial business combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
2.1.9 No Governmental Consents. No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of Subscriber in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.2 Company’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Subscriber to purchase the Shares, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:
2.2.1 Organization and Corporate Power. The Company is Cayman Islands exempted company and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.2.2 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or By Laws of the Company, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.
2
2.2.3 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (a) transfer restrictions hereunder and other agreements to which the Shares may be subject which have been notified to the Subscriber in writing, (b) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (c) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Subscriber.
2.2.4 No Adverse Actions. There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened against or affecting the Company which: (i) seek to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) question the validity or legality of any transactions or seeks to recover damages or to obtain other relief in connection with any transactions.
3. Forfeiture of Shares.
3.1 Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option. In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the underwriters of the IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it (or, if applicable, it and any transferees of Shares) shall forfeit any and all rights to such number of Shares (up to an aggregate of 258,750 Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that immediately following such forfeiture, the Subscriber (and all other initial stockholders prior to the IPO, if any) will own an aggregate number of Shares, not including Shares issuable upon exercise of any warrants or any Common Stock purchased by Subscriber in the IPO or in the aftermarket equal to approximately 20.0% of the issued and outstanding Shares immediately following the IPO.
3.2 Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If any of the Shares are forfeited in accordance with this Section 3, then after such time the Subscriber (or successor in interest), shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such forfeited Shares, and the Company shall take such action as is appropriate to cancel such forfeited Shares.
3.3 Share Certificates. In the event an adjustment to the Original Certificates, if any, is required pursuant to this Section 3, then the Subscriber shall return such Original Certificates to the Company or its designated agent as soon as practicable upon its receipt of notice from the Company advising Subscriber of such adjustment, following which a new certificate (the “New Certificate”), if any, shall be issued in such amount representing the adjusted number of Shares held by the Subscriber. The New Certificate, if any, shall be returned to the Subscriber as soon as practicable. Any such adjustment for any uncertificated securities held by the Subscriber shall be made in book-entry form.
4. Waiver of Liquidation Distributions; Redemption Rights. In connection with the Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions by the Company from the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “Trust Account”), in the event of a liquidation of the Company upon the Company’s failure to timely complete an initial business combination. For purposes of clarity, in the event the Subscriber purchases Shares in the IPO or in the aftermarket, any additional Shares so purchased shall be eligible to receive any liquidating distributions by the Company. However, in no event will the Subscriber have the right to redeem any Shares into funds held in the Trust Account upon the successful completion of an initial business combination.
5. Restrictions on Transfer.
5.1 Securities Law Restrictions. In addition to any restrictions to be contained in that certain letter agreement (commonly known as an “Insider Letter”) to be dated as of the closing of the IPO by and between Subscriber and the Company, Subscriber agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Shares unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Shares proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company has received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
3
5.2 Lock-up. Subscriber acknowledges that the Securities will be subject to lock-up provisions (the “Lock-up”) contained in the Insider Letter.
5.3 Restrictive Legends. Any certificates representing the Shares shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL, IS AVAILABLE.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCKUP AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP.”
5.4 Additional Shares or Substituted Securities. In the event of the declaration of a share dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Shares, a spin-off, a share split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Shares without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to this Section 5 or into which such Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to this Section 5 and Section 3. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of Shares subject to this Section 5 and Section 3.
5.5 Registration Rights. Subscriber acknowledges that the Shares are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or they are registered pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into with the Company prior to the closing of the IPO.
6. Other Agreements.
6.1 Further Assurances. Subscriber agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
6.2 Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be: (i) in writing and delivered personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Insider Letter and the registration rights agreement, each substantially in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 associated with the Company’s IPO, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Subscriber and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.
6.4 Modifications and Amendments. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by all parties hereto.
4
6.5 Waivers and Consents. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by a written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.
6.6 Assignment. The rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.
6.7 Benefit. All statements, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of New York applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.
6.9 Severability. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it reasonable and enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
6.10 No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies. No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
6.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made by the parties hereto in this Agreement or in any other agreement, certificate or instrument provided for or contemplated hereby, shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and any investigations made by or on behalf of the parties.
6.12 No Broker or Finder. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other that no broker, finder or other financial consultant has acted on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability on the other. Each of the parties hereto agrees to indemnify and save the other harmless from any claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, financial consultant or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of such party and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.
6.13 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions of the various subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.
6.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
5
6.15 Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
6.16 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the joint product of the Subscriber 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.
7. Voting and Tender of Shares. Subscriber agrees to vote the Shares in favor of an initial business combination that the Company negotiates and submits for approval to the Company’s stockholders and shall not seek redemption with respect to such Shares. Additionally, the Subscriber agrees not to tender any Shares in connection with a tender offer presented to the Company’s stockholders in connection with an initial business combination negotiated by the Company.
8. Indemnification. Each party shall indemnify the other against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
6
If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding and agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | |||
| By | /s/ Roy Jiang | ||
| Name: | Roy Jiang | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
| Accepted and agreed as of the date first written above. | |||
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION CORPORATION | |||
| By: | /s/ William S. Rosenstadt | ||
| Name: | William S. Rosenstadt | ||
| Title: | CEO and Chairman | ||
[Signature Page to Securities Subscription Agreement]
7
Exhibit 10.8
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
PROMISSORY NOTE
| Principal Amount: $300,000 | Dated as of February 28, 2025 |
Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Maker”), promises to pay to the order of Blueport Acquisition Corporation, its registered assigns or successors in interest (the “Payee”), the principal sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by the Maker to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.
| 1. | Principal. The principal balance of this Promissory Note (this “Note”) shall be payable promptly after the date on which the Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities or the date on which the Company determines not to conduct an initial public offering of its securities. The principal balance may be prepaid at any time. |
| 2. | Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note. |
| 3. | Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note. |
| 4. | Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”): |
| (a) | Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal of this Note within five (5) business days following the date when due. |
| (b) | Voluntary Liquidation, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a proceeding relating to its bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar action, or the consent by it to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) for Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing. |
| (c) | Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, for the appointing of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) for Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of Maker, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days. |
| 5. | Remedies. |
| (a) | Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 4(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding. |
1
| (b) | Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(b) and 4(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee. |
| 6. | Waivers. Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee. |
| 7. | Unconditional Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder. |
| 8. | Notices. Any notice called for hereunder shall be deemed properly given if (i) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, (ii) personally delivered, (iii) dispatched by any form of private or governmental express mail or delivery service providing receipted delivery or (iv) sent by facsimile or (v) to the following addresses or to such other address as either party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section: |
If to Maker:
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
c/o Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP
366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
If to Payee:
Blueport Acquisition Corporation
Blueport Acquisition Corporation
c/o Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP
366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Notice shall be deemed given on the earlier of (i) actual receipt by the receiving party, (ii) the date shown on a facsimile transmission confirmation, (iii) the date reflected on a signed delivery receipt, or (iv) two (2) Business Days following tender of delivery or dispatch by express mail or delivery service.
| 9. | Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF. |
| 10. | Jurisdiction. The courts of New York have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement (including a dispute relating to any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this agreement) and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New York. |
| 11. | Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. |
2
| 12. | Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any amounts contained in the trust account in which the proceeds of the initial public offering (the “IPO”) conducted by the Maker and the proceeds of the sale of securities in a private placement to occur prior to the effectiveness of the IPO, as described in greater detail in the registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, will be placed, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim from the trust account or any distribution therefrom for any reason whatsoever. |
| 13. | Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of the Maker and the Payee. |
| 14. | Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void. |
| 15. | Further Assurance. The Maker shall, at its own cost and expense, execute and do (or procure to be executed and done by any other necessary party) all such deeds, documents, acts and things as the Payee may from time to time require as may be necessary to give full effect to this Promissory Note. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed on the day and year first above written.
| BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD | |||
| By: | /s/ William S. Rosenstadt | ||
| Name: | William S. Rosenstadt | ||
| Title: | CEO and Chairman | ||
3
Exhibit 14.1
CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
OF
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
| 1. | Introduction |
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), has adopted this code of ethics (this “Code”), as amended from time to time by the Board and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) to:
| ● | promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| ● | promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company; |
| ● | promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| ● | deter wrongdoing; and |
| ● | require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code. |
This Code may be amended and modified by the Board. In this Code, references to the “Company” mean Blueport Acquisition Ltd, and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.
| 2. | Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct |
Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain and advantage.
Each person must:
| ● | act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests; |
| ● | observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| ● | comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business- related information and data; |
| ● | adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices; |
| ● | deal fairly with any customers, suppliers, competitors, employees and independent contractors of the Company; |
| ● | refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice; |
| ● | protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use; |
| ● | until the earliest of (i) the Company’s initial business combination (as such term is defined in the Company’s initial registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC), (ii) the Company’s liquidation, and (iii) such time that such person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, in each case, to first present to the Company for the Company’s consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity, but only if such opportunity is suitable for the Company, subject to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in effect (as amended from time to time) at such time and subject to any other fiduciary, contractual or other obligations such officer or director may have to other entities; and |
| ● | avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board) or as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following, all of which must be disclosed to the Company: |
| ● | any significant ownership interest in any target, supplier or customer of the Company; |
| ● | any consulting or employment relationship with any target, supplier or customer of the Company; |
| ● | the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any entity with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings; |
| ● | selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell (and, in the absence of any such comparable officer or director, on the same terms and conditions as a third party would buy or sell a comparable item in an arm’s-length transaction); |
| ● | any other financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company; and |
| ● | any other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes — or even appears to interfere — with the interests of the Company as a whole. |
| 3. | Disclosure |
The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:
| ● | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and |
| ● | in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness. |
In addition to the foregoing, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.
Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chairman of the Board any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
2
| 4. | Compliance |
It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. All directors, officers and employees of the Company are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them in their positions with the Company. Employees are responsible for talking to their supervisors to determine which laws, regulations and Company policies apply to their position and what training is necessary to understand and comply with them.
Directors, officers and employees are directed to specific policies and procedures available to persons they supervise.
| 5. | Reporting and Accountability |
The Board is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman of the Board promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.
Specifically, each person must:
| ● | notify the Chairman of the Board promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code; and |
| ● | not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith. |
The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on this Code:
| ● | the Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential or actual breaches reported to it; and |
| ● | upon determination by the Board that a breach has occurred, the Board (by majority decision) will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Company’s internal or external legal counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities. |
No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.
| 6. | Waivers and Amendments |
Any waiver (defined below) or implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. In lieu of filing a Current Report on Form 8-K to report any such waivers or amendments, the Company may provide such information on its website, in the event that one exists, and if it keeps such information on such website for at least 12 months and discloses the website address as well as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A “waiver” means the approval by the Board of a material departure from a provision of this Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.
All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.
3
| 7. | Insider Information and Securities Trading |
The Company’s directors, officers or employees who have access to material, non-public information are not permitted to use that information for securities trading purposes or for any purpose unrelated to the Company’s business. It is also against the law to trade or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision based on material, non-public information. For example, using material, non-public information to buy or sell the Company securities, options in the Company securities or the securities of any Company supplier, customer, competitor, potential business partner or potential target is prohibited. The consequences of insider trading violations can be severe. These rules also apply to the use of material, nonpublic information about other companies (including, for example, the Company’s customers, competitors, potential business partners and potential targets). In addition to directors, officers or employees, these rules apply to such person’s spouse, children, parents and siblings, as well as any other family members living in such person’s home. The Company’s directors, officers and employees should familiarize themselves with the Company’s policy on insider trading.
| 8. | Financial Statements and Other Records |
All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.
Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s internal or external legal counsel.
| 9. | Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits |
No director or officer, or any other person acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of the Company’s directors.
Types of conduct that could constitute improper influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:
| ● | offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services; |
| ● | providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis; |
| ● | threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| ● | seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| ● | blackmailing; and |
| ● | making physical threats. |
4
| 10. | Anti-Corruption Laws |
The Company complies with the anti-corruption laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”) Directors, officers, employees and agents, such as third party sales representatives, shall not take or cause to be taken any action that would reasonably result in the Company not complying with such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA. If you are authorized to engage agents on the Company’s behalf, you are responsible for ensuring they are reputable and for obtaining a written agreement for them to uphold the Company’s standards in this area.
| 11. | Violations |
Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.
| 12. | Other Policies and Procedures |
Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.
| 13. | Inquiries |
All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Chairman of the Board, or such other compliance officers as shall be designated from time to time by the Company.
5
PROVISIONS FOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
The CEO and all senior financial officers, including the CFO and principal accounting officer, are bound by the provisions set forth herein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, and compliance with law. In addition to this Code, the CEO and senior financial officers are subject to the following additional specific policies:
| A. | Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts between personal, private interests and the interests of the Company, including receiving improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position. |
| B. | Disclose to the CEO and the Board any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. |
| C. | Perform responsibilities with a view to causing periodic reports and documents filed with or submitted to the SEC and all other public communications made by the Company to contain information that is accurate, complete, fair, objective, relevant, timely and understandable, including full review of all annual and quarterly reports. |
| D. | Comply with laws, rules and regulations of federal, state and local governments applicable to the Company and with the rules and regulations of private and public regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the Company. |
| E. | Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting or omitting material facts or allowing independent judgment to be compromised or subordinated. |
| F. | Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of performance of his or her responsibilities except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose any such information; not use confidential information acquired in the course of performing his or her responsibilities for personal advantage. |
| G. | Share knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to the needs of the Company, its shareholders and other constituencies and the general public. |
| H. | Proactively promote ethical behavior among subordinates and peers in his or her work environment and community. |
| I. | Use and control all corporate assets and resources employed by or entrusted to him or her in a responsible manner. |
| J. | Not use corporate information, corporate assets, corporate opportunities or his or her position with the Company for personal gain; not compete directly or indirectly with the Company. |
| K. | Comply in all respects with this Code. |
| L. | Advance the Company’s legitimate interests when the opportunity arises. |
The Board will investigate any reported violations and will oversee an appropriate response, including corrective action and preventative measures. Any officer who violates this Code will face appropriate, case specific disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
Any request for a waiver of any provision of this Code must be in writing and addressed to the Chairman of the Board. Any waiver of this Code will be disclosed as provided in Section 6 of this Code.
It is the policy of the Company that each officer covered by this Code shall acknowledge and certify to the foregoing annually and file a copy of such certification with the Chairman of the Board.
6
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION
I have read and understand the foregoing Code. I hereby certify that I am in compliance with the foregoing Code and I will comply with the Code in the future. I understand that any violation of the Code will subject me to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
| Dated: | ||
| Signature: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
7
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION
I have read and understand the foregoing Code. I hereby certify that I am in compliance with the foregoing Code and I will comply with the Code in the future. I understand that any violation of the Code will subject me to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
| Dated: | ||
| Signature: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
8
Exhibit 23.1

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) on Form S-1 to be filed on June 26, 2025, of our report dated April 8, 2025, except for Note 8 dated May 16, 2025 with respect to our audit of the financial statements of Blueport Acquisition Ltd as of February 28, 2025, and for the period January 13, 2025 (inception) through February 28, 2025, which report appears in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.
/s/ Adeptus Partners, LLC
Adeptus Partners, LLC
Ocean, New Jersey
June 26, 2025
Exhibit 99.1
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. Purpose
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), shall provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations to oversee:
(a) the quality and integrity of the financial statements and other financial information provided by the Company to its shareholders, the public, any stock exchange and others;
(b) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
(c) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent auditor;
(d) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function (to the extent the Board determines that an internal audit function is necessary) and its system of internal controls and independent auditor,
(e) the appointment, compensation, performance, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
(f) the preparation of the report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, as required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”); and
(f) such other matters as are assigned to the Committee by the Board pursuant to this Charter or as mandated under applicable laws, rules and regulations (including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as well as listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (together, the “Applicable Requirements”).
Although the Committee has the powers and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, the role of the Committee is oversight. The members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Company and may or may not be accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the fields of accounting or auditing and, in any event, do not serve in such capacity. Consequently, it is not the duty of the Committee to conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and other Applicable Requirements. These are the responsibilities of management and the Company’s independent auditor.
II. Organization
The Committee shall consist of three or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the independence, financial literacy, and other qualifications required by the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, if any, Section 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Requirements, subject to any phase-in periods or cure periods permitted by Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A) under the Exchange Act and other Applicable Requirements. At least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” (as defined by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). Determinations of independence, financial literacy, experience and expertise shall be made by the Board as the Board interprets such qualifications in its business judgment.
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board (if any are in office at the time). Members of the Committee may be removed at any time by action of the Board; provided, however, that if removing a member or members of the Committee would cause the Committee to have fewer than three members, then the Board must, based upon the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board, at the same time appoint enough additional members to the Committee so that the Committee will have at least three qualified members. The Committee’s chairperson shall be designated by the Board on the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board (if any are in office at the time) or, if not so designated, the members of the Committee shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees from time to time as it sees fit, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and the Applicable Requirements.
III. Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least four times per year on a quarterly basis, or as often as it determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson of the Committee or, if there is no chairperson, by a majority of the members of the Committee. Meetings may be held telephonically or by other electronic means to the extent permitted by the Company’s organizational documents and applicable law.
A majority of the members of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members. However, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services, provided the decision is reported to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Committee shall also meet periodically with management, the chief internal auditor (if any) and the Company’s independent auditor in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or each of these groups believe should be discussed privately.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings and records relating to those meetings.
IV. Authority and Responsibilities
In fulfilling its duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Committee will be entitled to rely reasonably on (a) the integrity of those persons within the Company and the professionals and experts (such as the Company’s independent auditor) from whom it receives information, (b) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons and (c) representations made by the Company’s independent auditor as to any services provided by such firm to the Company.
To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
With respect to the engagement of the Company’s independent and other auditors:
| 1. | Be responsible for (a) the appointment, compensation, retention, (including termination), scope and oversight of the work of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company (including for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services or other work for the Company), and (b) the resolution of any disagreements between management and any such firm regarding financial reporting. |
| 2. | Have the authority to review in advance and pre-approve (which may be pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures) all audit or non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent or other auditors as permitted by Section 10A of the Exchange Act and to approve all related fees and other terms of engagement (including planning for and staffing the audit). The Committee shall also review and approve disclosures required to be included by the Company in periodic reports filed with the SEC under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to audit and non-audit services. |
2
| 3. | At least annually, obtain and review a formal written report from the Company’s independent auditor (a) describing such firm’s internal quality control procedures, (b) describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, peer review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) review or inspection of such firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and (c) assessing such firm’s independence, including delineating all relationships and engagements that may reasonably be thought to bear on the independence of the auditor, including those between the auditor and the Company. The Committee shall discuss this report with the Company’s independent auditor and shall take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the independent auditor and to address any other matters based on such report. |
| 4. | Confirm that the “lead partner,” the “concurring partner” and the other “audit partner” rotation requirements under the Applicable Requirements, including Regulation S-X have been complied with and set clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and that audit partner compensation is consistent with any applicable SEC rules. |
| 5. | Review all reports and communications required to be submitted by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Committee under Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act and other Applicable Requirements. |
| 6. | At least annually, evaluate the performance of the Company’s independent auditor, including the lead audit partner. In making its evaluation, the Committee should take into account the opinions of management and the internal audit group (if any). |
| 7. | Review and discuss with the Company’s independent auditor all relationships the auditor has with the Company and evaluate the auditor’s continued independence. |
| 8. | Review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the Company’s independent auditor. |
With respect to the Company’s financial statements and other financial reporting:
| 9. | Review and discuss the Company’s annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements with management and the Company’s independent auditor, including disclosures made in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. |
| 10. | Recommend to the Board whether the Company’s annual audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report for filing with the SEC and timely prepare the report required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, if applicable, and any other reports of the Committee required by any Applicable Requirement. |
3
| 11. | Review and discuss with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) major issues regarding, or significant changes in, the Company’s accounting principles and financial statement presentations, (b) analyses prepared by management or the Company’s independent auditor concerning significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (c) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company, and (d) the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particular attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information) and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. |
| 12. | Prior to the filing of any audited financial statements with the SEC, review with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company, (b) all alternative accounting treatments of financial information reported in GAAP related to material items that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and disclosures and the treatment preferred by the Company’s independent auditor, (c) any reports or communications (and management’s responses thereto) submitted to the Committee by the Company’s independent auditor in accordance with PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended or supplemented, (d) any recommendations of the Company’s independent auditor made in connection with the Company’s annual audit and (e) any other material written communications between the Company’s independent auditor and management. |
| 13. | Periodically review separately with each of management, the Company’s independent auditor and the internal audit group (if any) (a) any significant disagreement between management and the Company’s independent auditor or the internal audit group in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (b) any audit problems or difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information, and (c) management’s response to each. The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor material issues on which the national office of the independent auditor was consulted by the Company’s audit team. |
| 14. | Periodically discuss with the Company’s independent auditor, without management being present, (a) their judgment about the quality, integrity and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting principles and financial disclosure practices as applied in its financial reporting and (b) the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements. |
| 15. | Review and discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases, including the use of non-GAAP financial measures and other “pro forma” or “adjusted” presentations, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. Such discussions may be general (consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made), and each earnings release or each instance in which the Company provides earnings guidance need not be discussed in advance. |
| 16. | Review and discuss with management all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons. |
| 17. | Review and approve the Company’s decision to enter into swaps and other derivatives transactions that are exempt from exchange-execution and clearing under “end-user exception” regulations established by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and review and approve the Company’s policies governing the Company’s use of swaps and other derivatives transactions subject to the end- user exception. |
| 18. | Review and discuss with management and the internal audit group (if any) the Company’s major financial risk exposures and management’s risk assessment and risk management policies. |
4
With respect to the internal audit function and internal controls:
| 19. | Review, based on the recommendation of the Company’s independent auditor and the person responsible for the Company’s internal audit group, the scope and plan of the work to be done by the internal audit group and the responsibilities, budget, audit plan, activities, organizational structure and staffing of the internal audit group as needed. |
| 20. | Receive reports from the internal audit group on the status of significant findings and recommendations, and management’s responses. |
| 21. | Review on an annual basis the performance of the internal audit group. |
| 22. | In consultation with the Company’s management, independent auditor and the internal audit group, review the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, disclosure processes and its procedures designed to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies or significant weaknesses in internal controls. |
| 23. | Review, at least annually, (a) the internal control report prepared by management, including management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and (b) the Company’s independent auditor’s attestation, and report, on the assessment made by management, in each case, as and when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Discuss with management, the internal audit group and the independent auditor any changes in internal control over financial reporting disclosed or considered for disclosure in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC. |
| 24. | Review with management and the Company’s independent auditor any reports or disclosure submitted by management to the Committee as contemplated by the certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 25. | Review with management any management letters and the steps management intends to take to address the issues raised by those letters. |
With respect to the Company’s compliance programs:
| 26. | Monitor compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and oversee, review and discuss with management, at least annually, the implementation and effectiveness of the Company’s compliance and ethics programs. Review and take appropriate action with respect to any reports to the Committee from legal counsel for the Company concerning any material violation of securities law or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company, its subsidiaries or any person acting on their behalf. As appropriate, the Committee shall report and make recommendations to the Board with respect to these matters. |
| 27. | Establish procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company whose financial information is included in the Company’s financial statements of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
| 28. | Review and approve (a) any amendment to or waiver from the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for the chief executive officer and senior financial officer and (b) any public disclosure made regarding such change or waiver and advise the Board with respect to the Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. |
| 29. | Develop and recommend to the Board for approval policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, as may be amended from time to time, and any other applicable requirements (the “Related Person Transactions Policy”). Review the Related Person Transactions Policy at least annually and recommend to the Board for approval any changes to the Policy. Oversee the implementation of and compliance with the Related Person Transactions Policy, including reviewing, approving or ratifying related person transactions, as appropriate pursuant to the Related Person Transaction Policy. |
5
| 30. | Review with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
| 31. | Monitor compliance by the Company of the employee conflict of interest requirements contained in the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder. |
| 33. | Review with the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and independent registered public accounting firm, periodically, any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| 32. | To the extent that the Company’s securities continue to be listed on an exchange and subject to Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act, the Committee shall, with the assistance of management, advise the Board and any other Board committees if the clawback provisions of the Rule are triggered based upon a financial statement restatement or other financial statement change. |
| 33. | Implement and oversee the Company’s cybersecurity and information security policies, and periodically review the policies and managing potential cybersecurity incidents. |
With respect to the Committee’s other authorities and responsibilities:
| 34. | Approve reimbursement of expenses incurred by management in connection with certain activities on the Corporation’s behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses. |
| 35. | Review and assess annually its own performance and the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the Board any changes to this Charter deemed appropriate by the Committee. |
| 36. | Report regularly to the Board. |
| 37. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s organizational documents, as required under the Applicable Requirements or as the Committee or the Board otherwise deems necessary or appropriate. |
| 38. | Review on a quarterly basis all payments the Company makes to the officers or directors, or the Company’s or their respective affiliates. |
V. Resources
The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities, and shall have the authority to retain or terminate, at its sole discretion, independent legal, accounting and other advisors, consultants or professionals (collectively, “Advisors”) to assist the Committee in its responsibilities and shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of such Advisors. The chairperson of the Committee, at the request of any member of the Committee, may request any officer, employee or advisor of the Company, the Company’s independent auditor or others to attend a meeting of the Committee or otherwise respond to Committee requests.
The Committee shall have the sole authority to determine the terms of engagement and the extent of funding necessary (and to be provided by the Company) for payment of (a) compensation to the Company’s independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (b) any compensation to any Advisors retained to advise the Committee and (c) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
Nothing contained in this Charter is intended to create, or should be construed as creating, any responsibility or liability of the members of the Committee, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable federal or state law.
6
Exhibit 99.2
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
| I. | Purpose |
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), shall have responsibility for the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (herein the “CEO”), and for incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans as further provided in this Compensation Committee Charter (this “Charter”).
| II. | Organization |
The Committee shall consist of two or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the applicable independence and other compensation committee membership requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and any other applicable regulatory requirements subject to any exceptions or cure periods that are applicable pursuant to the foregoing requirements and the phase-in periods permitted under the Nasdaq rules under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member at the time of listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing.
At least one member of the Committee shall have experience in matters relating to executive compensation either as a professional or as a business executive. At least two members shall qualify as (a) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27 (“Outside Directors”), and (b) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“Non-Employee Directors”).
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board and may be removed by the Board at any time; provided, however, that if removing a member or members of the Committee would cause the Committee to have fewer than two members, then the Board must, based upon the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board, at the same time appoint an additional member to the Committee so that the Committee will have at least two members who qualifies as an (a) Outside Directors and (b) Non-Employee Directors. The Committee’s chairperson shall be designated by the Board on the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board or, if not so designated, the members of the Committee shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees from time to time as it sees fit, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and Nasdaq.
| III. | Meetings |
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson of the Committee or, if there is no chairperson, by a majority of the members of the Committee. Meetings may be held telephonically or by other electronic means to the extent permitted by the Company’s organizational documents and applicable law. Committee actions may be taken by unanimous written consent.
| IV. | Authority and Responsibilities |
To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
| 1. | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s compensation strategy to ensure it is appropriate to attract, retain and motivate senior management and other key employees. |
| 2. | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the executive compensation philosophy, policies and programs that in the Committee’s judgment support the Company’s overall business strategy and review and discuss, at least annually, the material risks associated with executive compensation structure, policies and programs to determine whether such structure, policies and programs encourage excessive risk-taking and to evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk. |
| 3. | On an annual basis, review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s CEO, evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and approve CEO compensation based on this evaluation. In evaluating, determining and approving the long-term incentive component of CEO compensation, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the Company’s performance, shareholder returns, the value of similar incentive awards to executive officers at comparable companies, the value of similar awards given to other executive officers of the Company, the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act (the “Say-on-Pay Vote”) and the awards given to the executive officer in past years. The CEO shall not be present during voting or deliberations relating to his or her compensation. |
| 4. | On an annual basis, review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s other executive officers, evaluate the executive officers’ performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and make recommendations to the Board with respect to executive officer compensation based on this evaluation. In evaluating and making recommendations with respect to the long-term incentive component of executive officer compensation, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the Company’s performance, shareholder returns, the value of similar incentive awards to executive officers at comparable companies, the value of similar awards given to other executive officers of the Company, the results of the most recent Say-on-Pay Vote and the awards given to the executive officer in past years. No executive officer may be present during voting or deliberations relating to his or her compensation. |
| 5. | Review on an annual basis and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans, if any. With respect to each such plan, the Committee shall have responsibility for: |
| (a) | implementing and administering the plan; |
| (b) |
setting performance targets under all annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation plans as appropriate and committing to writing any and all performance targets for executive officers who may be “covered employees” under applicable laws and regulations; |
| (c) | if called for by the plan, certifying that any and all performance targets used for any performance-based equity compensation plans have been met before payment of any executive bonus or compensation or exercise of any executive award granted under any such plans; |
| (d) | approving all amendments to, and terminations of, all compensation plans and any awards under such plans; |
2
| (e) | granting any awards under any performance-based annual bonus, long- term incentive compensation and equity compensation plans to executive officers or current employees with the potential to become the CEO or an executive officer, including share options and other equity rights (e.g., restricted shares and share purchase rights); |
| (f) | approving which executive officers are entitled to awards under the Company’s stock option plans; and |
| (g) | approving repurchases of securities from terminated employees; and | |
| (h) | in reviewing the Company’s incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans, considering the plan’s administrative costs, current plan features relative to any proposed new features, the results of the most recent Say-on-Pay Vote and the performance of the plan’s internal and external administrators if any duties have been delegated. |
| 6. |
Review and recommend to the Board for approval any employment agreement or compensatory transaction with an executive officer of the Company involving compensation in excess of $120,000 per year. |
| 7. |
Establish and periodically review policies concerning perquisite benefits and approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefits arrangements for officers and employees of the Company and approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for officers and employees of the Company. |
| 8. |
Determine and recommend to the Board for approval the Company’s policy with respect to change-of-control or “parachute” payments. In reviewing the Company’s policy with respect to change of control or “parachute” payments, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the results of the most recent Say-on-Pay Vote on “parachute” payments, if any. |
| 9. |
Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to executive officer and director indemnification and insurance matters. |
| 10. |
Review and recommend to the Board for approval the compensation of directors for their service to the Board. Review, evaluate and recommend changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration of directors. |
| 11. |
Approve compensation awards, including individual awards, as may be required to comply with applicable tax and state corporate laws. |
| 12. | Review the Company’s compensation disclosures in its annual proxy statement and its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and assist management in complying with proxy statement and annual report requirements. Review and discuss the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) with management and based on such review and discussion, determine whether to recommend to the Board that such compensation disclosures and CD&A be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or annual proxy statement filed with the SEC, as applicable. |
| 13. | Review and recommend to the Board for approval the frequency with which the Company will conduct Say-on-Pay Votes, taking into account the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote on frequency of Say-on-Pay Votes required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and review and recommend to the Board for approval the proposals regarding the Say-on-Pay Vote and the frequency of the Say-on-Pay Vote to be included in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the SEC. |
3
| 14. | Prepare any report required by applicable rules and regulations or listing standards, including reports on executive compensation required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, or, if the Company does not file a proxy statement, in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC. |
| 15. |
To the extent that the Company’s securities continue to be listed on an exchange and subject to Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act, the Committee shall, with the assistance of management, advise the Board and any other Board committee if the clawback provisions of such rule are triggered based upon a financial statement restatement or other financial statement change, and perform any other tasks required of it by the Company’s clawback policy. |
| 16. | Review and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend to the Board any changes deemed appropriate by the Committee. |
| 17. | Review its own performance annually. |
| 18. |
Report regularly to the Board. |
| 19. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
| V. | Resources |
The Committee shall have the authority to retain or terminate, at its sole discretion, compensation consultants, independent legal counsel or other advisors (collectively, “Advisors”) to assist the Committee in its responsibilities and shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of such Advisors. Before retaining an Advisor (other than in-house legal counsel and any Advisor whose role is limited to consulting on broad-based, non-discriminatory plans or providing information that is not customized in particular for the Company (as described in Item 407(e)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K), the Committee shall consider the independence of such Advisor, including any independence factors that it is required to consider by law or Nasdaq rules.
The chairperson of the Committee, at the request of any member of the Committee, may request that any officer, employee or advisor of the Company attend a meeting of the Committee or otherwise respond to Committee requests.
The Committee shall have the sole authority to determine the terms of engagement and the extent of funding necessary (and to be provided by the Company) for payment of compensation to any Advisors or other professionals retained to advise the Committee and ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
| VI. | Amendments |
Any amendment or other modification of this Charter shall be made and approved by the full Board.
4
Exhibit 99.3
CHARTER OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
The responsibilities and powers of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”), as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter. Whenever the Nominating Committee takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
I. PURPOSE
As set forth herein, the Nominating Committee shall, among other things, discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to the appropriate size, functioning, and needs of the Board including, but not limited to, recruitment and retention of high quality Board members and committee composition and structure, as well as administration and oversight of all aspects of the Company’s corporate governance functions on behalf of the Board.
II. MEMBERSHIP
The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least two members of the Board as determined from time to time by the Board. Each member shall be “independent” in accordance with the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“the “NASDAQ”), as amended from time to time.
The Board shall elect the members of this Nominating Committee at the first Board meeting practicable following the annual meeting of stockholders and may make changes from time to time pursuant to the provisions below. Unless a chair is elected by the Board, the members of the Nominating Committee shall designate a chair by majority vote of the full Nominating Committee membership.
A Nominating Committee member may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the Board by delivery to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of such written notice to such member if no date is specified.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION
The Nominating Committee shall meet at such times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. Meetings of the Nominating Committee shall be called by the chairman of the Nominating Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Bylaws of the company with respect to meetings of the Board. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Nominating Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval of a majority of the members present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall report its minutes from each meeting to the Board.
The chairman of the Nominating Committee may establish such rules as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Nominating Committee. At each meeting, the chairman shall appoint as secretary a person who may, but need not, be a member of the Nominating Committee. A certificate of the secretary of the Nominating Committee or minutes of a meeting of the Nominating Committee executed by the secretary setting forth the names of the members of the Nominating Committee present at the meeting or actions taken by the Nominating Committee at the meeting shall be sufficient evidence at all times as to the members of the Nominating Committee who were present, or such actions taken.
IV. COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
| ● | Developing the criteria and qualifications for membership on the Board. |
| ● | Recruiting, reviewing and nominating candidates for election to the Board or to fill vacancies on the Board. |
| ● | Reviewing candidates proposed by stockholders, and conducting appropriate inquiries into the background and qualifications of any such candidates. |
| ● | Establishing subcommittees for the purpose of evaluating special or unique matters. |
| ● | Monitoring and making recommendations regarding committee functions, contributions, and composition. |
| ● | Evaluating, on an annual basis, the Nominating Committee’s performance. |
| ● | Administer and oversee all aspects of the Company’s corporate governance functions on behalf of the Board. |
| ● | Make recommendations to the Board regarding corporate governance issues and related policies for risk assessment and risk management. |
| ● | Review with management and the Board the adequacy of and compliance with the Company’s Code of Ethics and the results of management’s efforts to monitor compliance with the Company’s policies designed to ensure adherence to applicable laws and rules. |
| ● | Performing any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s by-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems appropriate. |
V. REPORTING
The Nominating Committee shall prepare a statement each year concerning its compliance with this charter for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement.
2
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Board of Director Candidate Guidelines
The Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) will identify, evaluate, and recommend candidates to become members of the Board with the goal of creating a balance of knowledge and experience. Nominations to the Board may also be submitted to the Nominating Committee by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s policy, a copy of which is attached hereto. Candidates will be reviewed in the context of current composition of the Board (including the diversity in background, experience, and viewpoints of the Board), the operating requirements of the Company, and the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating Committee will consider and evaluate each director-candidate based upon its assessment of the following criteria:
| ● | Whether the candidate is independent pursuant to the requirements of the Nasdaq. |
| ● | Whether the candidate is accomplished in his or her field and has a reputation, both personal and professional, that is consistent with the image and reputation of the Company. |
| ● | Whether the candidate has the ability to read and understand basic financial statements. |
| ● | If a candidate satisfies the criteria for being an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
| ● | Whether the candidate has relevant experience and expertise and would be able to provide insights and practical wisdom based upon that experience and expertise. |
| ● | Whether the candidate has knowledge of the Company and issues affecting the Company. |
| ● | Whether the candidate is committed to enhancing stockholder value. |
| ● | Whether the candidate fully understands, or has the capacity to fully understand, the legal responsibilities of a director and the governance processes of a public company. |
| ● | Whether the candidate is of high moral and ethical character and would be willing to apply sound, objective, and independent business judgment, and to assume broad fiduciary responsibility. |
| ● | Whether the candidate has, and would be willing to commit, the required hours necessary to discharge the duties of Board membership. |
| ● | Whether the candidate has any prohibitive interlocking relationships or conflicts of interest. |
| ● | Whether the candidate is able to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Board’s working relationship with the senior management of the Company. |
| ● | Whether the candidate is able to suggest business opportunities to the Company. |
3
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Stockholder Recommendations for Directors
Stockholders who wish to recommend to the Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”), a candidate for election to the Board should send a written recommendation to Blueport Acquisition Ltd, Attention: Nominating Committee. The Corporate Secretary will promptly forward all such letters to the members of the Nominating Committee. Stockholders must follow certain procedures to recommend to the Nominating Committee candidates for election as directors. In general, in order to provide sufficient time to enable the Nominating Committee to evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders in connection with selecting candidates for nomination in connection with the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, the Corporate Secretary must receive the stockholder’s recommendation no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year.
The recommendation must contain the following information about the candidate:
| ● | Name; |
| ● | Age; |
| ● | Business and current residence addresses, as well as residence addresses for the past 20 years; |
| ● | Principal occupation or employment and employment history (name and address of employer and job title) for the past 10 years (or such shorter period as the candidate has been in the workforce); |
| ● | Educational background; |
| ● | Permission for the Company to conduct a background investigation, including the right to obtain education, employment, and credit information; |
| ● | The number of shares of common stock of the Company beneficially owned by the candidate; |
| ● | The information that would be required to be disclosed by the Company about the candidate under the rules of the SEC in a Proxy Statement soliciting proxies for the election of such candidate as a director (which currently includes information required by Items 401, 404 and 405 of Regulation S-K); and |
| ● | A signed consent of the nominee to serve as a director of the Company, if elected. |
4
Exhibit 99.4
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION CLAWBACK POLICY
Adopted as of [ ], 2025
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd (the “Company”) has adopted the following executive compensation clawback policy (this “Policy”). This Policy shall supplement any other clawback or compensation recovery policy or policies adopted by the Company or included in any agreement between the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, and a person covered by this Policy. If any such other policy or agreement provides that a greater amount of compensation shall be subject to clawback, such other policy or agreement shall apply to the amount in excess of the amount subject to clawback under this Policy.
This Policy shall be interpreted to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 10D-1 and Listing Rule 5608 (the “Listing Rule”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”), as may be amended or supplemented and interpreted from time to time by Nasdaq. To the extent this Policy is in any manner deemed inconsistent with the Listing Rule, this Policy shall be treated as having been amended to be compliant with the Listing Rule.
1. Definitions. Unless the context indicates otherwise the following definitions apply for purposes of this Policy:
(a) Executive Officer. An executive officer is the Company’s chief executive officer and/or president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the Company in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the Company. Executive officers of the Company’s parent(s) or subsidiaries are deemed executive officers of the Company if they perform such policy making functions for the Company. Policy-making function is not intended to include policy-making functions that are not significant. Identification of an executive officer for purposes of the Listing Rule would include at a minimum executive officers identified in the Listing Rule.
(b) Financial Reporting Measures. Financial reporting measures are measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return are also financial reporting measures. A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC and may be such financial measures as may be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee thereof (the “Compensation Committee”).
(c) Incentive-Based Compensation. Incentive-based compensation is any compensation that is granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a financial reporting measure.
(d) Received. Incentive-based compensation is deemed “received” in the Company’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the incentive-based compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the incentive-based compensation occurs after the end of that period.
2. Application of this Policy. This recovery of Incentive-Based Compensation from an Executive Officer as provided for in this Policy shall apply only in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of Company with any financial reporting requirement under the United States securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period.
3. Recovery Period.
(a) The Incentive-Based Compensation subject to recovery is the Incentive-Based Compensation Received during the three (3) completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement as described in Section 2 above, provided that the person served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period applicable to the Incentive-Based Compensation in question. The date that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement shall be determined pursuant to the Listing Rule.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Policy shall only apply if the Incentive-Based Compensation is Received (i) while the Company has a class of securities listed on Nasdaq and (ii) on or after October 2, 2023.
(c) The provisions of the Listing Rule shall apply with respect to Incentive-Based Compensation received during a transition period arising due to a change in the Company’s fiscal year.
4. Erroneously Awarded Compensation. The amount of Incentive-Based Compensation subject to recovery from the applicable Executive Officers under this Policy (“Erroneously Awarded Compensation”) shall be equal to the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation Received that exceeds the amount of Incentive Based-Compensation that otherwise would have been Received had it been determined based on the restated amounts and shall be computed without regard to any taxes paid. For Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an accounting restatement: (a) the amount shall be based on a reasonable estimate by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (or principal accounting officer, if the office of Chief Financial Officer is not then filled) of the effect of the accounting restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was received, which estimate shall be subject to the review and approval of the Compensation Committee; and (b) the Company must maintain reasonable documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to Nasdaq if requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proposed Incentive-Based Compensation recovery would affect compensation paid to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the determination shall be made by the Compensation Committee.
2
5. Timing of Recovery. The Company shall recover any Erroneously Awarded Compensation reasonably promptly except to the extent that the conditions of paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) below apply. The Compensation Committee shall determine the repayment schedule for each amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation in a manner that complies with this “reasonably promptly” requirement. Such determination shall be consistent with any applicable legal guidance by the SEC, Nasdaq, judicial opinion, or otherwise. The determination of “reasonably promptly” may vary from case to case and the Compensation Committee is authorized to adopt additional rules or policies to further describe what repayment schedules satisfy this requirement.
(a) Erroneously Awarded Compensation need not be recovered if the direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing (or making determinations in connection with the enforcement of) this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered and the Compensation Committee has made a determination that recovery would be impracticable. Before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation based on expense of enforcement, the Company shall (i) make a reasonable attempt to recover such Erroneously Awarded Compensation, (ii) document such reasonable attempt or attempts to recover, and (iii) provide appropriate documentation to the Compensation Committee or Nasdaq, if requested.
(b) Erroneously Awarded Compensation need not be recovered if recovery would violate home country law where that law was adopted prior to November 28, 2022. Before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation based on a violation of home country law, the Company shall obtain an opinion of home country counsel, in form and substance that would be reasonably acceptable to Nasdaq, that recovery would result in such a violation and shall provide such opinion to Nasdaq, if requested.
(c) Erroneously Awarded Compensation need not be recovered if recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and the regulations thereunder (as such provision may be amended, modified or supplemented).
6. Compensation Committee Decisions. Decisions of the Compensation Committee with respect to this Policy shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Executive Officers subject to this Policy.
7. No Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other policy of the Company or any agreement between the Company and an Executive Officer, no Executive Officer shall be indemnified by the Company against the loss arising from the recovery of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
8. Agreement to Policy by Executive Officers. The Company shall take reasonable steps to inform Executive Officers of this Policy and obtain their express agreement to this Policy, which steps may constitute the inclusion of this Policy as an attachment to any award that is accepted by an Executive Officer. This Policy shall be deemed to apply to each employment or grant agreement between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any Executive Officer subject to this Policy.
# # #
3
Exhibit 99.5
Insider Trading Compliance Manual
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Adopted: [ ], 2025
In order to take an active role in the prevention of insider trading violations by its officers, directors, employees, consultants, attorneys, advisors and other related individuals, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blueport Acquisition Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), has adopted the policies and procedures described in this Insider Trading Compliance Manual.
| I. | Adoption of Insider Trading Policy. |
Effective as of the date first written above, the Board has adopted the Insider Trading Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A (as the same may be amended from time to time by the Board, the “Policy”), which prohibits trading based on “material, nonpublic information” regarding the Company or any company whose securities are listed for trading or quotation in the United States (“Material Non-Public Information”).
This Policy covers all officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, all other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and consultants or contractors to the Company or its subsidiaries who have or may have access to Material Non-Public Information and members of the immediate family or household of any such person. This Policy (and/or a summary thereof) is to be delivered to all employees, consultants and related individuals who are within the categories of covered persons upon the commencement of their relationships with the Company.
| II. | Designation of Certain Persons. |
A. Section 16 Individuals. All directors and executive officers of the Company will be subject to the reporting and liability provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 16 Individuals”).
B. Other Persons Subject to Policy. In addition, certain employees, consultants, and advisors of the Company as described in Section I above have, or are likely to have, from time to time access to Material Non-Public Information and together with the Section 16 Individuals, are subject to the Policy, including the pre-clearance requirement described in Section IV. A. below.
C. Post-Termination Transactions. This Policy continues to apply to transactions in Company securities even after an employee, officer or director has resigned or terminated employment. If the person who resigns or separates from the Company is in possession of Material Non-Public Information at that time, he or she may not trade in Company securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
1
| III. | Appointment of Insider Trading Compliance Officer. |
By the adoption of this Policy, the Board has appointed the Company’s Chief Financial Officer as the Insider Trading Compliance Officer (the “Compliance Officer”).
| IV. | Duties of Compliance Officer. |
The Compliance Officer has been designated by the Board to handle any and all matters relating to the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Program. Certain of those duties may require the advice of outside counsel with special expertise in securities issues and relevant law. The duties of the Compliance Officer shall include the following:
A. Pre-clearing all transactions involving the Company’s securities by the Section 16 Individuals and those individuals having regular access to Material Non-Public Information in order to determine compliance with the Policy, insider trading laws, Section 16 of the Exchange Act and Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144”). Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a Pre-Clearance Checklist to assist the Compliance Officer’s performance of this duty.
B. Assisting in the preparation and filing of Section 16 reports (Forms 3, 4 and 5) for all Section 16 Individuals, bearing in mind, however, that the preparation of such reports is undertaken by the Company as a courtesy only and that the Section 16 Individuals alone (and not the Company, its employees or advisors) shall be solely responsible for the content and filing of such reports and for any violations of Section 16 under the Exchange Act and related rules and regulations.
C. Serving as the designated recipient at the Company of copies of reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by Section 16 Individuals under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
D. Performing periodic reviews of available materials, which may include Forms 3, 4 and 5, Form 144, officers and director’s questionnaires, and reports received from the Company’s stock administrator and transfer agent, to determine trading activity by officers, directors and others who have, or may have, access to Material Non-Public Information.
E. Circulating the Policy (and/or a summary thereof) to all covered employees, including Section 16 Individuals, on an annual basis, and providing the Policy and other appropriate materials to new officers, directors and others who have, or may have, access to Material Non-Public Information.
F. Assisting the Board in implementation of the Policy and all related Company policies.
G. Coordinating with Company internal or external legal counsel regarding all securities compliance matters.
H. Retaining copies of all appropriate securities reports, and maintaining records of his or her activities as Compliance Officer.
[Acknowledgement Appears on the Next Page]
2
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I hereby acknowledge that I have received a copy of Blueport Acquisition Ltd’s Insider Trading Compliance Manual (the “Insider Trading Manual”). Further, I certify that I have reviewed the Insider Trading Manual, understand the policies and procedures contained therein and agree to be bound by and adhere to these policies and procedures.
| Dated: | ||||
| Signature | ||||
| Name: | ||||
3
Exhibit A
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Insider Trading Policy
and Guidelines with Respect to Certain Transactions in Company Securities
APPLICABILITY OF POLICY
This Policy applies to all transactions in the Company’s securities, including ordinary shares, options and warrants to purchase ordinary shares and any other securities the Company may issue from time to time, such as preferred shares, warrants and convertible notes, as well as to derivative securities relating to the Company’s shares, whether or not issued by the Company, such as exchange-traded options. It applies to all officers and directors of the Company, all other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and consultants or contractors to the Company or its subsidiaries who have or may have access to Material Nonpublic Information (as defined below) regarding the Company and members of the immediate family or household of any such person. This group of people is sometimes referred to in this Policy as “Insiders.” This Policy also applies to any person who receives Material Nonpublic Information from any Insider.
Any person who possesses Material Nonpublic Information regarding the Company is an Insider for so long as such information is not publicly known.
DEFINITION OF MATERIAL NONPUBLIC INFORMATION
It is not possible to define all categories of material information. However, the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts have ruled that information should be regarded as “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor:
| (1) | would consider the information important in making an investment decision; and |
| (2) | would view the information as having significantly altered the “total mix” of available information about the Company. |
“Nonpublic” information is information that has not been previously disclosed to the general public and is otherwise not available to the general public.
While it may be difficult to determine whether particular information is material, there are various categories of information that are particularly sensitive and, as a general rule, should always be considered material. In addition, material information may be positive or negative. Examples of such information may include:
| ● | Financial results |
| ● | Information relating to the Company’s stock exchange listing or SEC regulatory issues |
| ● | Information regarding regulatory review of Company products |
| ● | Intellectual property and other proprietary/scientific information |
| ● | Projections of future earnings or losses |
A-1
| ● | Major contract awards, cancellations or write-offs |
| ● | Joint ventures/commercial partnerships with third parties |
| ● | Research milestones and related payments or royalties |
| ● | News of a pending or proposed merger or acquisition |
| ● | News of the disposition of material assets |
| ● | Impending bankruptcy or financial liquidity problems |
| ● | Gain or loss of a substantial customer or supplier |
| ● | New product announcements of a significant nature |
| ● | Significant pricing changes |
| ● | Stock splits |
| ● | New equity or debt offerings |
| ● | Significant litigation exposure due to actual or threatened litigation |
| ● | Changes in senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company |
| ● | Capital investment plans |
| ● | Changes in dividend policy |
CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS
For purposes of this Policy:
1. Share Options Exercises. For purposes of this Policy, the Company considers that the exercise of share options under the Company’s share option plans (but not the sale of the underlying shares) to be exempt from this Policy. This Policy does apply, however, to any sale of shares as part of a broker-assisted “cashless” exercise of an option, or any market sale for the purpose of generating the cash needed to pay the exercise price of an option.
2. 401(k) Plan. This Policy does not apply to purchases of Company shares in the Company’s 401(k) plan resulting from periodic contributions of money to the plan pursuant to payroll deduction elections. This Policy does apply, however, to certain elections that may be made under the 401(k) plan, including (a) an election to increase or decrease the percentage of periodic contributions that will be allocated to the Company share fund, if any, (b) an election to make an intra-plan transfer of an existing account balance into or out of the Company share fund, (c) an election to borrow money against a 401(k) plan account if the loan will result in a liquidation of some or all of a participant’s Company share fund balance and (d) an election to pre-pay a plan loan if the pre-payment will result in allocation of loan proceeds to the Company share fund.
3. Employee Share Purchase Plan. This Policy does not apply to purchases of Company shares in the Company’s employee share purchase plan, if any, resulting from periodic contributions of money to the plan pursuant to the elections made at the time of enrollment in the plan. This Policy also does not apply to purchases of Company shares resulting from lump sum contributions to the plan, provided that the participant elected to participate by lump-sum payment at the beginning of the applicable enrollment period. This Policy does apply to a participant’s election to participate in or increase his or her participation in the plan, and to a participant’s sales of Company shares purchased pursuant to the plan.
A-2
4. Dividend Reinvestment Plan. This Policy does not apply to purchases of Company shares under the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, if any, resulting from reinvestment of dividends paid on Company securities. This Policy does apply, however, to voluntary purchases of Company shares that result from additional contributions a participant chooses to make to the plan, and to a participant’s election to participate in the plan or increase his level of participation in the plan. This Policy also applies to his or her sale of any Company shares purchased pursuant to the plan.
5. General Exceptions. Any exceptions to this Policy other than as set forth above may only be made by advance written approval of each of: (i) the Company’s President or Chief Executive Officers, (ii) the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Officer and (iii) the Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board. Any such exceptions shall be immediately reported to the remaining members of the Board.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
General Policy
It is the policy of the Company to prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of any nonpublic information acquired in the workplace and the misuse of Material Nonpublic Information in securities trading related to the Company or any other company.
Specific Policies
1. Trading on Material Nonpublic Information. With certain exceptions, no Insider shall engage in any transaction involving a purchase or sale of the Company’s or any other company’s securities, including any offer to purchase or offer to sell, during any period commencing with the date that he or she possesses Material Nonpublic Information concerning the Company, and ending at the close of business on the second Trading Day following the date of public disclosure of that information, or at such time as such nonpublic information is no longer material. However, see Section 2 under “Permitted Trading Period” below for a full discussion of trading pursuant to a pre-established plan or by delegation.
As used herein, the term “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges are open for trading.
2. Tipping. No Insider shall disclose (“tip”) Material Nonpublic Information to any other person (including family members) where such information may be used by such person to his or her profit by trading in the securities of companies to which such information relates, nor shall such Insider or related person make recommendations or express opinions on the basis of Material Nonpublic Information as to trading in the Company’s securities.
A-3
Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) is an issuer disclosure rule implemented by the SEC that addresses selective disclosure of Material Nonpublic Information. The regulation provides that when the Company, or person acting on its behalf, discloses material nonpublic information to certain enumerated persons (in general, securities market professionals and holders of the Company’s securities who may well trade on the basis of the information), it must make public disclosure of that information. The timing of the required public disclosure depends on whether the selective disclosure was intentional or unintentional; for an intentional selective disclosure, the Company must make public disclosures simultaneously; for a non-intentional disclosure the Company must make public disclosure promptly. Under the regulation, the required public disclosure may be made by filing or furnishing a Form 8-K, or by another method or combination of methods that is reasonably designed to effect broad, non-exclusionary distribution of the information to the public.
It is the policy of the Company that all public communications of the Company (including, without limitation, communications with the press, other public statements, statements made via the Internet or social media outlets, or communications with any regulatory authority) be handled only through the Company’s President and/or Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), an authorized designee of the CEO or the Company’s public or investor relations firm. Please refer all press, analyst or similar requests for information to the CEO and do not respond to any inquiries without prior authorization from the CEO. If the CEO is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (or the authorized designee of such officer) will fill this role.
3. Confidentiality of Nonpublic Information. Nonpublic information relating to the Company is the property of the Company and the unauthorized disclosure of such information (including, without limitation, via email or by posting on Internet message boards, blogs or social media) is strictly forbidden.
4. Duty to Report Inappropriate and Irregular Conduct. All employees, and particularly managers and/or supervisors, have a responsibility for maintaining financial integrity within the company, consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and both federal and state securities laws. Any employee who becomes aware of any incidents involving financial or accounting manipulation or irregularities, whether by witnessing the incident or being told of it, must report it to their immediate supervisor and to any member of the Company’s Audit Committee. In certain instances, employees are allowed to participate in federal or state proceedings. For a more complete understanding of this issue, employees should consult their employee manual and/or seek the advice from their direct report or the Company’s principal executive officers (who may, in turn, seek input from the Company’s outside legal counsel).
POTENTIAL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABILITY
AND/OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
1. Liability for Insider Trading. Insiders may be subject to penalties of up to $5,000,000 for individuals (and $25,000,000 for a business entity) and up to twenty (20) years in prison for engaging in transactions in the Company’s securities at a time when they possess Material Nonpublic Information regarding the Company. In addition, the SEC has the authority to seek a civil monetary penalty of up to three times the amount of profit gained or loss avoided by illegal insider trading. “Profit gained” or “loss avoided” generally means the difference between the purchase or sale price of the Company’s shares and its value as measured by the trading price of the shares a reasonable period after public dissemination of the nonpublic information.
A-4
2. Liability for Tipping. Insiders may also be liable for improper transactions by any person (commonly referred to as a “tippee”) to whom they have disclosed Material Nonpublic Information regarding the Company or to whom they have made recommendations or expressed opinions on the basis of such information as to trading in the Company’s securities. The SEC has imposed large penalties even when the disclosing person did not profit from the trading. The SEC, the stock exchanges and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. use sophisticated electronic surveillance techniques to monitor and uncover insider trading.
3. Possible Disciplinary Actions. Individuals subject to the Policy who violate this Policy shall also be subject to disciplinary action by the Company, which may include suspension, forfeiture of perquisites, ineligibility for future participation in the Company’s equity incentive plans and/or termination of employment.
PERMITTED TRADING PERIOD
1. Black-Out Period and Trading Window.
To ensure compliance with this Policy and applicable federal and state securities laws, the Company requires that all officers, directors, members of the immediate family or household of any such person and others who are subject to this Policy refrain from conducting any transactions involving the purchase or sale of the Company’s securities, other than during the period in any fiscal quarter commencing at the close of business on the second Trading Day following the date of public disclosure of the financial results for the prior fiscal quarter or year and ending on the twenty-fifth day of the third month of the fiscal quarter (the “Trading Window”). If such public disclosure occurs on a Trading Day before the markets close, then such date of disclosure shall be considered the first Trading Day following such public disclosure.
It is the Company’s policy that the period when the Trading Window is “closed” is a particularly sensitive periods of time for transactions in the Company’s securities from the perspective of compliance with applicable securities laws. This is because Insiders will, as any quarter progresses, are increasingly likely to possess Material Nonpublic Information about the expected financial results for the quarter. The purpose of the Trading Window is to avoid any unlawful or improper transactions or the appearance of any such transactions.
It should be noted that even during the Trading Window any person possessing Material Nonpublic Information concerning the Company shall not engage in any transactions in the Company’s (or any other companies, as applicable) securities until such information has been known publicly for at least two Trading Days. The Company has adopted the policy of delaying trading for “at least two Trading Days” because the securities laws require that the public be informed effectively of previously undisclosed material information before Insiders trade in the Company’s shares. Public disclosure may occur through a widely disseminated press release or through filings, such as Forms 10-Q and 8-K, with the SEC. Furthermore, in order for the public to be effectively informed, the public must be given time to evaluate the information disclosed by the Company. Although the amount of time necessary for the public to evaluate the information may vary depending on the complexity of the information, generally two Trading Days is a sufficient period of time.
A-5
From time to time, the Company may also require that Insiders suspend trading because of developments known to the Company and not yet disclosed to the public. In such event, such persons may not engage in any transaction involving the purchase or sale of the Company’s securities during such period and may not disclose to others the fact of such suspension of trading.
Although the Company may from time to time require during a Trading Window that Insiders and others suspend trading because of developments known to the Company and not yet disclosed to the public, each person is individually responsible at all times for compliance with the prohibitions against insider trading. Trading in the Company’s securities during the Trading Window should not be considered a “safe harbor,” and all directors, officers and other persons should use good judgment at all times.
Notwithstanding these general rules, Insiders may trade outside of the Trading Window provided that such trades are made pursuant to a legally compliant, pre-established plan or by delegation established at a time that the Insider is not in possession of material nonpublic information. These alternatives are discussed in the next section.
| 2. | Trading According to a Pre-established Plan (10b5-1) or by Delegation. |
The SEC has adopted Rule 10b5-1 (which was amended in December 2022) under which insider trading liability can be avoided if Insiders follow very specific procedures. In general, such procedures involve trading according to pre-established instructions, plans or programs (a “10b5-1 Plan”) after a required “cooling off” period described below.
10b5-1 Plans must:
(a) Be documented by a contract, written plan, or formal instruction which provides that the trade take place in the future. For example, an Insider can contract to sell his or her shares on a specific date, or simply delegate such decisions to an investment manager, 401(k) plan administrator or similar third party. This documentation must be provided to the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Officer;
(b) Include in its documentation the specific amount, price and timing of the trade, or the formula for determining the amount, price and timing. For example, the Insider can buy or sell shares in a specific amount and on a specific date each month, or according to a pre-established percentage (of the Insider’s salary, for example) each time that the share price falls or rises to pre-established levels. In the case where trading decisions have been delegated (i.e., to a third party broker or money manager), the specific amount, price and timing need not be provided;
(c) Be implemented at a time when the Insider does not possess material non-public information. As a practical matter, this means that the Insider may set up 10b5-1 Plans, or delegate trading discretion, only during a “Trading Window” (discussed in Section 1, above), assuming the Insider is not in possession of material non-public information;
A-6
(d) Remain beyond the scope of the Insider’s influence after implementation. In general, the Insider must allow the 10b5-1 Plan to be executed without changes to the accompanying instructions, and the Insider cannot later execute a hedge transaction that modifies the effect of the 10b5-1 Plan. Insiders should be aware that the termination or modification of a 10b5-1 Plan after trades have been undertaken under such plan could negate the 10b5-1 affirmative defense afforded by such program for all such prior trades. As such, termination or modification of a 10b-5 Plan should only be undertaken in consultation with your legal counsel. If the Insider has delegated decision-making authority to a third party, the Insider cannot subsequently influence the third party in any way and such third party must not possess material non-public information at the time of any of the trades;
(e) Be subject to a “cooling off” period. Effective February 27, 2023, Rule 10b5-1 contains “cooling-off period” for directors and officers that prohibit such insiders from trading in a 10b5-1 Plan until the later of (i) 90 days following the plan’s adoption or modification or (ii) two business days following the Company’s disclosure (via a report filed with the SEC) of its financial results for the fiscal quarter in which the plan was adopted or modified; and
(f) Contain Insider certifications. Effective February 27, 2023, directors and officers are required to include a certification in their 10b5-1 Plans to certify that at the time the plan is adopted or modified: (i) they are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information about the Company or its securities and (ii) they are adopting the 10b5-1 Plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the anti-fraud provisions of the Exchange Act.
Important: In addition, effective February 27, 2023: (i) Insiders are prohibited from having multiple overlapping 10b5-1 Plans or more than one plan in any given year, (ii) a modification relating to amount, price and timing of trades under a 10b5-1 Plan is deemed a plan termination which requires a new cooling off period, and (iii) whether a particular trade is undertaken pursuant to a 10b5-1 Plan will need to be disclosed (by checkoff box) on the applicable Forms 4 or 5 of the Insider.
Pre-Approval Required: Prior to implementing a 10b5-1 Plan, all officers and directors must receive the approval for such plan from (and provide the details of the plan to) the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Officer.
| 3. | Pre-Clearance of Trades. |
Even during a Trading Window, all Insiders, must comply with the Company’s “pre-clearance” process prior to trading in the Company’s securities, implementing a pre-established plan for trading, or delegating decision-making authority over the Insider’s trades. To do so, each Insider must contact the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Officer prior to initiating any of these actions. The Company may also find it necessary, from time to time, to require compliance with the pre-clearance process from others who may be in possession of Material Nonpublic Information.
| 4. | Individual Responsibility. |
Every person subject to this Policy has the individual responsibility to comply with this Policy against insider trading, regardless of whether the Company has established a Trading Window applicable to that Insider or any other Insiders of the Company. Each individual, and not necessarily the Company, is responsible for his or her own actions and will be individually responsible for the consequences of their actions. Therefore, appropriate judgment, diligence and caution should be exercised in connection with any trade in the Company’s securities. An Insider may, from time to time, have to forego a proposed transaction in the Company’s securities even if he or she planned to make the transaction before learning of the Material Nonpublic Information and even though the Insider believes he or she may suffer an economic loss or forego anticipated profit by waiting.
A-7
APPLICABILITY OF POLICY TO INSIDE INFORMATION
REGARDING OTHER COMPANIES
This Policy and the guidelines described herein also apply to Material Nonpublic Information relating to other companies, including the Company’s customers, vendors or suppliers (“business partners”), when that information is obtained in the course of employment with, or other services performed on behalf of the Company. Civil and criminal penalties, as well as termination of employment, may result from trading on Material Nonpublic Information regarding the Company’s business partners. All Insiders should treat Material Nonpublic Information about the Company’s business partners with the same care as is required with respect to information relating directly to the Company.
PROHIBITION AGAINST BUYING AND SELLING
COMPANY ORDINARY SHARES WITHIN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD
Directors, Officers and 10% Shareholders
Purchases and sales (or sales and purchases) of Company ordinary shares occurring within any six-month period in which a mathematical profit is realized result in illegal “short-swing profits.” The prohibition against short-swing profits is found in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Section 16 was drafted as a rather arbitrary prohibition against profitable “insider trading” in a company’s securities within any six-month period regardless of the presence or absence of material nonpublic information that may affect the market price of those securities. Each executive officer, director and 10% shareholder of the Company is subject to the prohibition against short-swing profits under Section 16. Such persons are required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 reports reporting his or her initial ownership of the Company’s ordinary shares and any subsequent changes in such ownership. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires executive officers and directors who must report transactions on Form 4 to do so by the end of the second business day following the transaction date, and amendments to Form 4 adopted effective February 2023 require the reporting person to check on the form if the purchase or sale was undertaken pursuant to a 10b5-1 Plan. Profit realized, for the purposes of Section 16, is calculated generally to provide maximum recovery by the Company. The measure of damages is the profit computed from any purchase and sale or any sale and purchase within the short-swing (i.e., six-month) period, without regard to any setoffs for losses, any first-in or first-out rules, or the identity of the ordinary shares. This approach sometimes has been called the “lowest price in, highest price out” rule.
The rules on recovery of short-swing profits are absolute and do not depend on whether a person has Material Nonpublic Information. In order to avoid trading activity that could inadvertently trigger a short-swing profit, it is the Company’s policy that no executive officer, director and 10% shareholder of the Company who has a 10b5-1 Plan in place may engage in voluntary purchases or sales of Company securities outside of and while such 10b5-1 Plan remains in place.
INQUIRIES
Please direct your questions as to any of the matters discussed in this Policy to the Company’s Insider Trading Compliance Officer.
A-8
Exhibit B
Blueport Acquisition Ltd
Insider Trading Compliance Program - Pre-Clearance Checklist
Individual Proposing to Trade:_________________________
Number of Shares covered by Proposed Trade:
Date:_________________________
| ☐ | Trading Window. Confirm that the trade will be made during the Company’s “trading window.” |
| ☐ | Section 16 Compliance. Confirm, if the individual is subject to Section 16, that the proposed trade will not give rise to any potential liability under Section 16 as a result of matched past (or intended future) transactions. Also, ensure that a Form 4 has been or will be completed and will be timely filed. |
| ☐ | Prohibited Trades. Confirm, if the individual is subject to Section 16, that the proposed transaction is not a “short sale,” put, call or other prohibited or strongly discouraged transaction. |
| ☐ | Rule 144 Compliance (as applicable). Confirm that: |
| ☐ | Current public information requirement has been met; |
| ☐ | Shares are not restricted or, if restricted, the one year holding period has been met; |
| ☐ | Volume limitations are not exceeded (confirm that the individual is not part of an aggregated group); |
| ☐ | The manner of sale requirements have been met; and |
| ☐ | The Notice of Form 144 Sale has been completed and filed. |
| ☐ | Rule 10b-5 Concerns. Confirm that (i) the individual has been reminded that trading is prohibited when in possession of any material information regarding the Company that has not been adequately disclosed to the public, and (ii) the Insider Trading Compliance Officer has discussed with the individual any information known to the individual or the Insider Trading Compliance Officer which might be considered material, so that the individual has made an informed judgment as to the presence of inside information. |
| ☐ | Rule 10b5-1 Matters. Confirm whether the individual has implemented, or proposes to implement, a pre-arranged trading plan under Rule 10b5-1. If so, obtain details of the plan. |
________________________________________
Signature of Insider Trading Compliance Officer
Exhibit 99.6
Consent to be Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Blueport Acquisition Ltd of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of by Blueport Acquisition Ltd in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Dated: June 26, 2025
| /s/ Yarona Yieh | |
| Yarona Yieh |
Exhibit 99.7
Consent to be Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Blueport Acquisition Ltd of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of by Blueport Acquisition Ltd in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Dated: June 26, 2025
| /s/ Scott Silverman | |
| Scott Silverman |
Exhibit 99.8
Consent to be Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Blueport Acquisition Ltd of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of by Blueport Acquisition Ltd in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Dated: June 26, 2025
| /s/ Steven Sanders | |
| Steven Sanders |