Borealis Foods Inc PRE 14A, filed Nov 8, 2023
Borealis Foods Inc. (BRLS)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Schedule 14A
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Information Required in Proxy Statement
Schedule 14A Information
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Filed by the Registrant |
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
The information in this preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Preliminary — Subject to Completion, Dated November 7, 2023
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
300/26 Dostyk Avenue
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020
PROXY STATEMENT FOR EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
Dear Shareholders of Oxus Acquisition Corp.:
You are cordially invited to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) of shareholders of Oxus Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company,” “Oxus,” “we,” “us” or “our”), to be held on December 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned. This Extraordinary General Meeting is being held in lieu of the 2023 annual general meeting, and shareholders will have the opportunity to present questions to management at the Company. The formal meeting notice and proxy statement for the Extraordinary General Meeting are attached.
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023 and entering the 12 digit control number included on your proxy card. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world. The meeting may be attended virtually online via the Internet and for purposes of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting is at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States of America.
Even if you are planning to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, please promptly submit your proxy vote by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so that your shares will be represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. It is strongly recommended that you complete and return your proxy card before the Extraordinary General Meeting date to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Instructions on how to vote your shares are on the proxy materials you received for the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Extraordinary General Meeting is being held to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
(a) as a special resolution, to amend the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Charter”) pursuant to an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to as our initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated on September 8, 2021 (the “IPO”) if it fails to complete such initial business combination, for up to an additional six months, from December 8, 2023 (the “Current Termination Date”) to up to June 8, 2024, or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the “Board”) (the “Extension,” such later date, the “Extended Date,” and such proposal, the “Extension Proposal”); and
(b) as an ordinary resolution, to approve the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”), which will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Each of the proposals is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement, which you are encouraged to read carefully.
The purpose of the Extension is to allow the Company more time to complete its previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) by and among the Company, 1000397116 Ontario Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (“Newco”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Borealis Foods Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (“Borealis”) pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement among the Company, Newco and Borealis dated February 23, 2023.
Pursuant to the Charter, the Company had until December 8, 2023, to complete an initial business combination. While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there may not be sufficient time before December 8, 2023 to complete the Business Combination. The Board believes that the initial business combination opportunity with Borealis is compelling and in the best interests of our shareholders. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to extend the date by which the Company must complete an initial business combination to the Extended Date. If the Extension Proposal is approved, we plan to hold another shareholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination and related proposals. For more information regarding the Business Combination Agreement, please read the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Business Combination that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or the “SEC”) on March 1, 2023, and the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-273967) initially filed with the Commission on August 14, 2023, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Registration Statement”), including the complete text of the Business Combination Agreement provided as an annex thereto, in connection with the shareholder vote for the Business Combination, as it has been and may be further amended or supplemented from time to time. If the closing of the Business Combination occurs prior to the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Extraordinary General Meeting will be cancelled and will not be held.
In connection with the Extension, public shareholders may elect to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (as defined below), including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, divided by the number of then-issued and outstanding Public Shares, regardless of how such public shareholders vote on the Extension Proposal or if they vote at all. If the Extension Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining public shareholders will retain their right to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon consummation of our initial business combination when it is submitted to a vote of the shareholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter, as amended. In addition, public shareholders will be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed an initial business combination by the Extended Date.
Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $ at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Share on November 7, 2023 was $ per share. The Company cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares on the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares.
In accordance with the Charter, a public shareholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public shareholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
(i) (a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares as part of units and elect to separate such units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and
(ii) prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 1, 2023 (two business days prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting), (a) submit a written request to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company.
Holders of units of the Company must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or her own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public shareholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Proposal.
The Company expects that the proceeds held in the Trust Account will continue to be invested in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as determined by the Company, or in an interest bearing demand deposit account until the earlier of: (i) the completion of its initial business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, Oxus Capital Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”) or its designees has agreed to loan to us $0.025 per public share that remain outstanding and is not redeemed in connection with the Extension for each of the six calendar months commencing on December 8, 2023 (the “Extension Loan”), which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the length of the extension period that will be needed to complete the Business Combination. For example, if we need until June 8, 2024 to complete the Business Combination, no public shares are redeemed and all of our public shares remain outstanding in connection with the Extension, then the aggregate maximum contribution to the Trust Account will be $292,420.
Assuming the Extension Proposal is approved, the initial contribution of the Extension Loan amount will be deposited into the Trust Account promptly following the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each additional contribution will be deposited into the Trust Account on or before the 8th day of such calendar month. The Extension Loan is conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension. The Extension Loan will not occur if the Extension Proposal is not approved, or the Extension is not completed. The amount of the Extension Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of a Business Combination (as defined below).
If the Extension is not approved, and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and Board, 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.
Approval of the Extension Proposal requires a special resolution under the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”), being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Ordinary Shares,” together with the Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Ordinary Shares”) issued and outstanding, voting together as a single class, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so in person or by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so in person or by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
THE BOARD HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EXTENSION PROPOSAL AND, IF PRESENTED, THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL ARE ADVISABLE AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE OR GIVE INSTRUCTION TO VOTE “FOR” SUCH PROPOSALS. The Board has fixed the close of business
on November 7, 2023, as the record date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. Only shareholders of record on November 7, 2023 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Further information regarding voting rights and the matters to be voted upon is presented in the accompanying proxy statement.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If you are a public shareholder, you will have the right to vote on an initial business combination (and to exercise your redemption rights, if you so choose) when it is submitted to the Company’s shareholders for approval.
All of our shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting via the Internet at https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023. To ensure your representation at the Extraordinary General Meeting, however, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank on how to vote your shares. You may revoke your proxy card at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting.
A shareholder’s failure to vote in person or by proxy will not be counted towards the number of Ordinary Shares required to validly establish a quorum. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible. You are requested to carefully read the proxy statement and accompanying Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting for a more complete statement of matters to be considered at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your ordinary shares, please contact Morrow Sodali LLC, our proxy solicitor, by calling (800) 662-5200, or banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400, or by emailing OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.
On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank you for your support of Oxus Acquisition Corp.
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, 2023 |
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Kenges Rakishev Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors |
If you return your proxy card signed and without an indication of how you wish to vote, your shares will be voted “FOR” each of the proposals.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST (1) IF YOU HOLD CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AS PART OF UNITS, ELECT TO SEPARATE YOUR UNITS INTO THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC SHARES AND PUBLIC WARRANTS PRIOR TO EXERCISING YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SHARES, (2) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING THAT YOUR PUBLIC SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH AND (3) DELIVER YOUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
This proxy statement is dated , 2023
and is first being mailed to our shareholders with the form of proxy on or about , 2023.
IMPORTANT
Whether or not you expect to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, you are respectfully requested by the Board to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy promptly, or follow the instructions contained in the proxy card or voting instructions provided by your broker. If you grant a proxy, you may revoke it at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Oxus Acquisition Corp.
300/26 Dostyk Avenue
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020
NOTICE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 5, 2023
Dear Shareholders of Oxus Acquisition Corp.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) of shareholders of Oxus Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), will be held on December 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned. For purposes of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Charter”), the physical place of the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States of America. You will be able to attend, vote your shares, and submit questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting via a live webcast available at https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
1. Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — as a special resolution, to amend the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Charter”) pursuant to an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to as our initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated on September 8, 2021 (the “IPO”) if it fails to complete such initial business combination, for up to an additional six months, from December 8, 2023 (the “Current Termination Date”) to up to June 8, 2024, or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the “Board”) (the “Extension,” such later date, the “Extended Date,” and such proposal, the “Extension Proposal”); and
2. Proposal No. 2 — The Adjournment Proposal — as an ordinary resolution, to approve the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”), which will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The above matters are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. We urge you to read carefully the accompanying proxy statement in its entirety.
On February 23, 2023, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement with 1000397116 Ontario Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Newco”), and Borealis Foods Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (“Borealis”) (as may be amended and restated from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement” and the transaction contemplated therein, the “Business Combination”). If the closing of the Business Combination occurs prior to the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Extraordinary General Meeting will be cancelled and will not be held.
We will not proceed with the Extension if the number of redemptions of our public shares causes us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension.
Approval of the Extension Proposal requires a special resolution under the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”), being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class B Ordinary Shares and the Class A Ordinary Shares (collectively, the “Ordinary Shares”) issued and outstanding,
voting together as a single class, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Notwithstanding shareholder approval of the Extension Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our shareholders.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
In connection with the Extension, public shareholders may elect to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, divided by the number of then-issued and outstanding Public Shares (as defined below), regardless of how such public shareholders vote on the Extension Proposal, or if they vote at all. If the Extension is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining public shareholders will retain their right to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon consummation of our initial business combination when it is submitted to a vote of the shareholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter. In addition, public shareholders will be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed an initial business combination by the Extended Date, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter, as amended.
Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $ at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares on November 7, 2023 was $ per share. The Company cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares on the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares.
Pursuant to the Charter, a public shareholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public shareholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
(i) (a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares as part of units and elect to separate such units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and
(ii) prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 1, 2023 (two business days prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting), (a) submit a written request to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company.
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or her own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public shareholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Proposal.
The Company expects that the proceeds held in the Trust Account will continue to be invested in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as determined by the Company, or in an interest bearing demand deposit account until the earlier of: (i) the completion of its initial business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account.
If the Extension is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and the Board, 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.
Only shareholders of record of the Company as of the close of business on November 7, 2023 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Extraordinary General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to one vote. On the record date, there were Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, including Class A Ordinary Shares (including of Class A Shares that were initially sold as part of the IPO (“Public Shares”)) and Class B Ordinary Shares. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection with the proposals.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Extraordinary General Meeting and not to submit to our shareholders the Extension Proposal and implement the Extension.
Your vote is important. Proxy voting permits shareholders unable to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person to vote their shares through a proxy. By appointing a proxy, your shares will be represented and voted in accordance with your instructions. You can vote your shares by completing and returning your proxy card or by completing the voting instruction form provided to you by your broker. Proxy cards that are signed and returned but do not include voting instructions will be voted by the proxy as recommended by the Board. You can change your voting instructions or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting by following the instructions included in this proxy statement and on the proxy card.
It is strongly recommended that you complete and return your proxy card before the Extraordinary General Meeting date to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. You are urged to review carefully the information contained in the enclosed proxy statement prior to deciding how to vote your shares. If you have any questions or need assistance voting your Ordinary Shares, please contact Morrow Sodali LLC, our proxy solicitor, by calling (800) 662-5200, or banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400, or by emailing OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.
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Kenges Rakishev Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 5, 2023
This Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting and Proxy Statement is available at https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023.
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OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
To Be Held at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time on December 5, 2023
This proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on December 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023 and entering the 12 digit control number included on your proxy card. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world. The meeting may be attended virtually online via the Internet and for purposes of the Charter, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting is at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States of America.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements may relate to the Company’s initial business combination and any other statements relating to future results, strategy and plans of the Company (including statements which may be identified by the use of the words “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “estimated”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “targets”, “projects”, “contemplates”, “predicts”, “potential”, “continue”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”).
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Company as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
• the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to a delay in or the failure to close our initial business combination, including the previously announced business combination;
• the amount of redemptions by our public shareholders;
• the ability to retain key personnel and the ability to achieve shareholder and regulatory approvals, industry trends, legislation or regulatory requirements and developments in the global economy;
• disrupted global supply chains and significant volatility and disruption of financial markets;
• increased expenses associated with being a public company;
• our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;
• our potential ability to obtain additional financing, if needed, to complete our initial business combination;
• our pool of prospective target businesses;
• the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities;
• our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
• the use of proceeds not held in our Trust Account or available to us from interest income on the Trust Account balance; and
• our financial performance.
Additional information on these and other factors that may cause actual results and the Company’s performance to differ materially is included in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, including those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” therein, and the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and, in connection with an initial business combination, the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time. Copies of the Company’s filings with the SEC are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained by contacting the Company. 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including any annexes to this proxy statement.
Why am I receiving this proxy statement?
This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held virtually on December 5, 2023, or at any adjournments thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Company is a blank check company incorporated on February 3, 2021, as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. On September 8, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of its units, with each unit consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share and one redeemable warrant to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share, in the amount of 15,000,000 units. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale of 8,400,000 private placement warrants at a purchase price of $1.00 per private placement warrant to the Sponsor and the underwriters, generating gross proceeds to us of $8,400,000. Following the closing of the IPO, a total of $153,000,000 of the net proceeds from its IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants were placed in the Trust Account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) acting as trustee. On September 9, 2021, the underwriters notified the Company of their exercise of the over-allotment option in full and purchased 2,250,000 additional units at $10.00 per unit upon the closing of the over-allotment option, generating gross proceeds of $22,500,000. The over-allotment option closed on September 13, 2021, and 900,000 additional private placement units were purchased at a purchase price of $1.00 per private placement warrant. The Charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in the Trust Account to the holders of public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Current Termination Date (unless further extended pursuant to the Charter). On March 2, 2023, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Original Extension Amendment”). The Original Extension Amendment extended the date by which the Company had to consummate its initial business combination from March 8, 2023 to Current Termination Date. In connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Original Extension Amendment, the holders of 15,300,532 Class A Ordinary Shares property exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.41 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $159.34 million, leaving approximately $20.3 million in the Trust Account. As of November 7, 2023, the amounts held in the Trust Account was approximately $21.8 million.
On February 23, 2023, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement with 1000397116 Ontario Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Newco”), and Borealis Foods Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (“Borealis”) (as may be amended and restated from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement” and the transaction contemplated therein, the “Business Combination”). While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there may not be sufficient time before December 8, 2023 to complete the Business Combination. The Board believes that the Business Combination opportunity with Borealis is compelling and in the best interests of our shareholders. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to extend the date by which the Company must complete the Business Combination to the Extended Date. If the closing of the Business Combination occurs prior to the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Extraordinary General Meeting will be cancelled and will not be held.
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What is being voted on?
You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
1. as a special resolution, to amend the Company’s Charter pursuant to an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to as our initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A Ordinary Shares, included as part of the units sold in the Company’s IPO if it fails to complete such initial business combination, for up to an additional six months, from the Current Termination Date to the Extended Date; and
2. as an ordinary resolution, to approve the Adjournment Proposal, which will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, we plan to hold another shareholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination and related proposals.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination if and when it is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.
What is the effect of giving a proxy?
Proxies are solicited by and on behalf of our Board. Kanat Mynzhanov and Askar Mametov have been designated as proxies by our Board. When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder. If no specific instructions are given, however, the shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board as described below. If any matters not described in this proxy statement are properly presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, the proxy holders will use their own judgment to determine how to vote the shares. If the Extraordinary General Meeting is adjourned, the proxy holders can vote the shares on the new Extraordinary General Meeting date as well, unless you have properly revoked your proxy instructions, as described elsewhere herein.
Can I attend the Extraordinary General Meeting?
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023 and entering the 12 digit control number included on your proxy card. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world. The meeting may be attended virtually online via the Internet and for purposes of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting is at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States of America. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage-paid envelope. If you hold your shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the broker, bank or nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares.
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Why should I vote to approve the Extension?
Our Board believes shareholders will benefit from the Company consummating the Business Combination and is proposing the Extension to extend the date by which the Company has to complete an initial business combination until the Extended Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete the Business Combination.
The Charter currently provides that if the Company does not complete an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
We believe that the provisions of the Charter described in the preceding paragraph were included to protect the Company’s shareholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the Charter. We also believe, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing an initial business combination, and our belief that an initial business combination is likely to offer an attractive investment for our shareholders, the Extension is warranted.
In connection with the Extension, public shareholders may elect to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, divided by the number of then-issued and outstanding Public Shares, regardless of how such public shareholders vote on the Extension Proposal, or if they vote at all. We will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions of public shares cause us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Proposal.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Extraordinary General Meeting and not to submit to our shareholders the Extension Proposal and implement the Extension.
Liquidation of the Trust Account is a fundamental obligation of the Company to the public shareholders and the Company is not proposing and will not propose to change that obligation to the public shareholders. If holders of public shares do not elect to redeem their public shares, such holders shall retain redemption rights in connection with an initial business combination. Assuming the Extension is approved, the Company will have until the Extended Date to complete an initial business combination.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Proposal, but expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your public shares.
How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?
The Sponsor and other initial shareholders and their permitted transferees (collectively, the “Initial Shareholders”) collectively have the right to vote approximately 65.7% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares and are expected to vote all of their shares in favor of each proposal to be voted upon by our shareholders.
Subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material non-public information), the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may (i) purchase public shares from institutional and other investors (including those who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against any of the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, or elect to redeem, or indicate an intention to redeem, public shares), (ii) enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to not redeem their public shares, or (iii) execute agreements to purchase such public shares from such investors or enter into non-redemption agreements in the future. In the event that the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would
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apply, they (a) would purchase the public shares at a price no higher than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process (i.e., approximately $ per share, based on the amounts held in the Trust Account as of November 7, 2023); (b) would represent in writing that such public shares will not be voted in favor of approving the Extension; and (c) would waive in writing any redemption rights with respect to the public shares so purchased.
To the extent any such purchases by the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases apply, the Company will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting the following: (i) the number of public shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Extension will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of Ordinary Shares for which the Company has received redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer.
The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood of (i) otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem and (ii) the Company’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) being at least $5,000,001.
If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Extension to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted for the Extension at the Extraordinary General Meeting and could decrease the chances that the Extension would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
The Company hereby represents that any securities of the Company purchased by the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Extension Proposal.
What vote is required to approve the Extension Proposal?
Approval of the Extension Proposal requires a special resolution under the Companies Act, being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, voting together as a single class, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so in person or by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
What vote is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal?
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so in person or by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
What if I want to vote against or don’t want to vote for any of the proposals?
If you do not want any of the proposals to be approved, you must abstain, not vote or vote against such proposal. A shareholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting will not be counted towards the number of Ordinary Shares required to validly establish a quorum. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established.
Will you seek any further extensions to liquidate the Trust Account?
Other than the extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, we do not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate an initial business combination.
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What happens if the Extension Proposal is not approved?
If the Extension Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.
In the event of a liquidation, the Sponsor, directors and officers will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Ordinary Shares or warrants (each, a “Private Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Warrants”).
If the Extension is approved, what happens next?
If the Extension Proposal is approved, we expect to seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination. If shareholders approve the Business Combination, we expect to consummate the Business Combination as soon as possible following such shareholder approval. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, even if we are able to effect the Extension, our failure to obtain any required regulatory approvals in connection with an initial business combination within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. Upon approval of the Extension Proposal by the holders of at least two-thirds of the Ordinary Shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so at the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Company will file an amendment to the Charter with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (the “Cayman Registrar”) in the form attached as Annex A hereto. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, Class A Ordinary Shares and public warrants will remain publicly traded.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, the Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us $0.025 per public share that remain outstanding and is not redeemed in connection with the Extension for each of the six calendar months commencing on December 8, 2023 (the “Extension Loan”), which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the length of the extension period that will be needed to complete the Business Combination. For example, if we need until June 8, 2024 to complete the Business Combination, no public shares are redeemed and all of our public shares remain outstanding in connection with the Extension, then the aggregate maximum contribution to the Trust Account will be $292,420.
Assuming the Extension Proposal is approved, the initial contribution of the Extension Loan amount will be deposited into the Trust Account promptly following the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each additional contribution will be deposited into the Trust Account on or before the 8th day of such calendar month. The Extension Loan is conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension. The Extension Loan will not occur if the Extension Proposal is not approved, or the Extension is not completed. The amount of the Extension Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of a Business Combination.
If the Extension is approved, any removal of any Withdrawal Amount (defined as an amount equal to the number of public shares properly redeemed multiplied by the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares) from the Trust Account will reduce the amount remaining in the Trust Account and increase the percentage interest of Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor through their ownership of Class B Ordinary Shares and Class A Ordinary Shares, converted from Class B Ordinary Shares (such collective shares held by the Sponsor, the “Founder Shares”). We will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions of public shares cause us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension.
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If the Extension is approved, the Sponsor will continue to receive payments from the Company of $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services until the earlier of the Company’s consummation of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2021, by and between the Company and the Sponsor (the “Administrative Services Agreement”).
Where will I be able to find the voting results of the Extraordinary General Meeting?
We will announce preliminary voting results at the Extraordinary General Meeting. We will also disclose voting results on a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC within four business days after the Extraordinary General Meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the Extraordinary General Meeting, we will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and will provide the final results in an amendment to such Current Report on Form 8-K as soon as they become available.
Would I still be able to exercise my redemption rights in connection with a vote to approve a proposed initial business combination?
Yes. Assuming you are a shareholder as of the record date for voting on a proposed initial business combination, you will be able to vote on a proposed initial business combination when it is submitted to shareholders. If you disagree with an initial business combination, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of such initial business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter.
How do I change my vote?
Shareholders may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to the Company at 300/26 Dostyk Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020, so that it is received by the Company prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting (which is scheduled to take place on December 5, 2023). Shareholders also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company, which must be received by the Company prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. However, if your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote.
How are votes counted?
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for each of the proposals. A shareholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person at the meeting will not be counted towards the number of Ordinary Shares required to validly establish a quorum. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established.
If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me?
If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with respect to “non-discretionary” items. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” items.
Your broker can vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary” items only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. If you do not give your broker instructions, your shares will be treated as broker non-votes with respect to all proposals. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
What is a quorum?
A quorum is the holders of the minimum number of shares required to be present at the Extraordinary General Meeting for the Extraordinary General Meeting to be properly held under the Charter and the Companies Act. The presence, in person, by proxy, or if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy, of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting constitutes a quorum. Proxies that are marked “abstain” and proxies relating to “street name” shares that are returned to us but marked by brokers as “not voted” (so-called “broker non-votes”) will be treated as shares
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present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum on all matters. If a shareholder does not give the broker voting instructions, under applicable self-regulatory organization rules, its broker may not vote its shares on “non-discretionary” matters. We believe that each of the proposals is a “non-discretionary” matter.
Who can vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting?
Holders of our Ordinary Shares as of the close of business on November 7, 2023, the record date, are entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. As of the record date, there were 6,561,968 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, consisting of 3,749,468 Class A Ordinary Shares and 2,812,500 Class B Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share. In deciding all matters at the Extraordinary General Meeting, each shareholder will be entitled to one vote for each share held by them on the record date. 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. The Initial Shareholders collectively own all of our issued and outstanding Founder Shares, constituting approximately 65.7% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.
Registered Shareholders. If our shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental, you are considered the shareholder of record with respect to those shares. As the shareholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the individuals listed on the proxy card or to vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Street Name Shareholders. If our shares are held on your behalf in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of those shares held in “street name,” and your broker or nominee is considered the shareholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or nominee as to how to vote your shares. However, since a beneficial owner is not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your Ordinary Shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting unless you follow your broker’s procedures for obtaining a legal proxy. Throughout this proxy, we refer to shareholders who hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee as “street name shareholders.”
Does the board of directors recommend voting for the approval of the proposals?
Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of these proposals, the Board has determined that each of the proposals are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board recommends that the Company’s shareholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals.
What interests do the Company’s directors and officers have in the approval of the proposals?
The Company’s directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include ownership of Founder Shares, the Private Warrants that may become exercisable in the future, any loans by them to the Company that will not be repaid in the event of our winding up and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and the Company’s Directors and Officers.”
Are there any appraisal or similar rights for dissenting shareholders?
Neither the Companies Act nor the Charter provide for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting shareholders in connection with any of the proposals to be voted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Accordingly, our shareholders will have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension is not approved?
If the Extension is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in
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the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.
What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Proposal is approved?
If the Extension Proposal is approved, the Company will continue to attempt to consummate the Business Combination until the Extended Date, and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it. The warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.
How do I vote?
If you are a holder of record of Ordinary Shares on November 7, 2023, the record date for the Extraordinary General Meeting, you may vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting online or by submitting a proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage-paid envelope. If you hold your shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the broker, bank or nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting and vote in person online, obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
How do I redeem my Ordinary Shares?
Pursuant to the Charter, a public shareholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public shareholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
i. (a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares as part of units and elect to separate such units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and
ii. prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 1, 2023 (two business days prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting), (a) submit a written request to Continental, the Company’s transfer agent, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company.
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public shareholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Proposal.
Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $ at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares on November 7, 2023 was $ per share. The Company cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares on the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares.
What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares.
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Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
The Board is soliciting proxies for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting. All costs associated with this solicitation will be borne directly by the Company. We have engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting. We have agreed to pay Morrow a fee of $ and will reimburse Morrow for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify Morrow against certain losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims. We will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares and in obtaining voting instructions from those owners. Our directors and officers may also solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.
Who can help answer my questions?
If you have questions about the Extraordinary General Meeting or the proposals to be presented thereat, if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, or if you would like copies of any of the Company’s filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, you should contact:
Oxus Acquisition Corp.
300/26 Dostyk Avenue
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020
Attn: Kanat Mynzhanov
Telephone: +7 (727)355-8021
Email: info@oxusacquisition.com
You may also contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at:
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street
5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (800) 662-5200
(banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400)
Email: OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
You may also obtain additional information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
If you are a holder of public shares and you intend to seek redemption of your shares, you will need to deliver your public shares (either physically or electronically) to the transfer agent at the address below prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 1, 2023 (two business days prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting). If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please contact:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
E-mail: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
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In addition to the below risk factors, you should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 annual report”), any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision to invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described in the aforementioned filings and below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.
We cannot assure you that the Extension will enable us to complete a business combination.
Approving the Extension involves a number of risks. Even if the Extension is approved, we cannot assure you that the Business Combination will be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate the Business Combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If the Extension is approved, we expect to seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination. We are required to offer shareholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Extension Proposal, and we will be required to offer shareholders redemption rights again in connection with any shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination. Even if the Extension or the Business Combination are approved by our shareholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate the Business Combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and a business combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our shareholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that shareholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with Borealis or a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is 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), and ultimately prohibited by the same.
Our Sponsor is Oxus Capital Pte. Ltd, a Singapore company. Our Sponsor currently owns 2,662,500 Class B Shares and 1,500,000 Class A Shares. Kenges Rakishev, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and the controlling shareholder of Sponsor, is a citizen of Kazakhstan. Oxus is a Cayman Islands exempted company. All of Oxus’ officers and directors are non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons are likely to hold the majority of the Board seats after the consummation of the Business Combination. Borealis is a Canadian corporation and the success company will be an Ontario corporation after the consummation of the Business Combination.
If CFIUS considers the Company to be a “foreign person” and Borealis a U.S. business that may affect national security, the Company could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review. If the Business Combination with Borealis falls within the scope of applicable foreign ownership restrictions, Oxus may be unable to consummate the Business Combination. In addition, if the Business Combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, the Company may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the Business Combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing of the Business Combination.
Although the Company does not believe that Borealis is a U.S. business, let alone one that may affect national security that may affect national security, CFIUS may take a different view and decide to block or delay the Business Combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to the Business Combination, order the Company to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if the Company had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, or impose penalties if CFIUS believes that the mandatory notification requirement applied. Additionally, the laws and regulations of other U.S. government entities may impose review or approval procedures on account of any foreign ownership by our Sponsor. If the Company were to seek an initial business combination other than the Business Combination, the pool of potential targets with which the Company could complete an initial business combination may be limited as a result of any such regulatory restriction. Moreover, the process of any government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because the Company has only a limited time to complete the initial business combination, its failure to obtain any required approvals within the
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requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If the Company liquidates, its public shareholders would be entitled to redemption of 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 the Company (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any). Moreover, the public shareholders would lose the investment opportunity in a target company, any price appreciation in the combined company, and the warrants would expire worthless.
If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted and, as a result, we may abandon our efforts to consummate an initial business combination and liquidate.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules relating to certain activities of SPACs (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”), relating to, among other things, circumstances in which SPACs could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for an initial business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its IPO (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that will not complete an initial business combination within 24 months after the IPO date. It is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. This risk may be increased if we continue to hold the funds in the Trust Account in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, rather than instructing the trustee to liquidate the securities in the Trust Account and hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead to liquidate. If we are required to liquidate, our shareholders would not be able to realize the benefits of owning stock in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our stock and warrants following such a transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless.
If we instruct the trustee to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash in order to seek to mitigate the risk that we could be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount the public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The funds in the Trust Account have, since the IPO, been held only 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, 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 instruct the trustee with respect to the Trust Account to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money
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market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of consummation of an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation of the securities held in the Trust Account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account. 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 securities held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash would reduce the dollar amount the public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement, we have not yet made any such determination to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account.
Further, 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 considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, 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 cash, which would further reduce the dollar amount the public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement, we have not yet made any such determination to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account.
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THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Extraordinary General Meeting
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023 and entering the 12 digit control number included on your proxy card. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world. The meeting may be attended virtually online via the Internet and for purposes of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting is at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States of America. At the Extraordinary General Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on proposals to:
1. Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — as a special resolution, to amend the Company’s Charter pursuant to an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to as our initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A Ordinary Shares, included as part of the units sold in the Company’s IPO if it fails to complete such initial business combination, for up to an additional six months, from the Current Termination Date to the Extended Date; and
2. Proposal No. 2 — The Adjournment Proposal — as an ordinary resolution, to approve the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the Extension Proposal, which will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Voting Power; Record Date
Only shareholders of record of the Company as of the close of business on November 7, 2023 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Extraordinary General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to one vote. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. On the record date, there were 6,561,968 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, including 3,749,468 Class A Ordinary Shares (including 2,249,468 Public Shares) and 2,812,500 Class B Ordinary Shares. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection with the proposals.
Quorum and Vote of Shareholders
A quorum is the minimum number of shares required to be present at the Extraordinary General Meeting for the Extraordinary General Meeting to be properly held under the Charter and the Companies Act. The presence, in person, by proxy, or if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy, of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting constitutes a quorum. Proxies that are marked “abstain” and proxies relating to “street name” shares that are returned to us but marked by brokers as “not voted” so-called “broker non-votes” will be treated as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum on all matters. If a shareholder does not give the broker voting instructions, under applicable self-regulatory organization rules, its broker may not vote its shares on “non-discretionary” matters. We believe each of the proposals constitutes a “non-discretionary” matter.
Votes Required
Approval of the Extension Proposal requires a special resolution under the Companies Act, being the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
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Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
If you do not want any of the proposals to be approved, you must abstain, not vote or vote against such proposal. A shareholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting will not be counted towards the number of Ordinary Shares required to validly establish a quorum. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established.
Voting
The Board is asking for your proxy. Giving the Board your proxy means you authorize it to vote your shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting in the manner you direct. You may vote for or withhold your vote for the proposal or you may abstain from voting. All valid proxies received prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting will be voted. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a shareholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If no choice is indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted “FOR” each of the proposals and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the Extraordinary General Meeting.
You can vote your shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting in person online or by proxy. You will be able to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Extraordinary General Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/oxusacquisition/egm2023 and entering the 12 digit control number included on your proxy card. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage-paid envelope. If you hold your shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the broker, bank or nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
Proxies that are marked “abstain” and proxies relating to “street name” shares that are returned to us but marked by brokers as “not voted” (so-called “broker non-votes”) will be treated as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum on all matters. If a shareholder does not give the broker voting instructions, under applicable self-regulatory organization rules, its broker may not vote its shares on “non-discretionary” matters. We believe each of the proposals constitutes a “non-discretionary” matter.
Shareholders who have questions or need assistance in completing or submitting their proxy cards should contact our proxy solicitor, Morrow, at (800) 662-5200 or by sending a letter to 333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower, Stamford, CT 06902, or by emailing OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.
Revocability of Proxies
Shareholders may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to our proxy solicitor at Oxus Acquisition Corp., c/o Morrow Sodali LLC c/o 333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower. Stamford, CT 06902, so that it is received by the Company prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting (which is scheduled to take place on December 5, 2023). Shareholders also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company, which must be received by the Company prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. However, if your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote.
Attendance at the Extraordinary General Meeting
Only holders of Ordinary Shares, their proxy holders and guests we may invite may attend the Extraordinary Meeting. If you wish to attend the Extraordinary Meeting virtually but you hold your shares through someone else, such as a broker, you must submit proof of your ownership and identification with a photo at the Extraordinary Meeting. For example, you may submit an account statement showing that you beneficially owned Ordinary Shares
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as of the Record Date as acceptable proof of ownership. In addition, you must submit a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares, confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.
Solicitation of Proxies
The Company is soliciting proxies for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting. All costs associated with this solicitation will be borne directly by the Company. We have engaged Morrow to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting. We have agreed to pay Morrow a fee of $ , plus disbursements, and will reimburse Morrow for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify Morrow against certain losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims. We will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares and in obtaining voting instructions from those owners. Our directors and officers may also solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies. You may contact Morrow at:
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street
5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (800) 662-5200
(banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400)
Email: OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
Some banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own Ordinary Shares listed of record in the names of nominees. We intend to request banks and brokers to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations. If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding Ordinary Shares is deemed necessary, we (through our directors and officers) anticipate making such solicitation directly.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal
Neither the Companies Act nor the Charter provide for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting shareholders in connection with any of the proposals to be voted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Accordingly, our shareholders will have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
Shareholder Proposals
In accordance with the Charter, notice specifying the general nature of any special business must be given in the notice convening that meeting. All business carried out at an extraordinary general meeting shall be deemed special.
Other Business
The Board does not know of any other matters to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If any additional matters are properly presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have discretion to vote the shares they represent in accordance with their own judgment on such matters.
Principal Executive Offices
Our principal executive offices are located at 300/26 Dostyk Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020. Our telephone number is +7 (727)355-8021. Our corporate website address is https://www.oxusacquisition.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this proxy statement.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1 — THE EXTENSION PROPOSAL
Background
On September 8, 2021, Oxus consummated the IPO of its units, with each unit consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share and one redeemable warrant to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share, in the amount of 15,000,000 units. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, Oxus completed the private sale of 8,400,000 private placement warrants at a purchase price of $1.00 per private placement warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of $8,400,000. Following the closing of the IPO, a total of $153,000,000 of the net proceeds from its IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants were placed in the Trust Account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) acting as trustee. On September 9, 2021, the underwriters notified the Company of their exercise of the over-allotment option in full and purchased 2,250,000 additional units at $10.00 per unit upon the closing of the over-allotment option, generating gross proceeds of $22,500,000. The over-allotment option closed on September 13, 2021, and 900,000 additional private placement units were purchased at a purchase price of $1.00 per private placement warrant. On March 2, 2023, the Company’s shareholders approved the Original Extension Amendment. The Original Extension Amendment extended the date by which the Company had to consummate its initial business combination from March 8, 2023 to Current Termination Date. In connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Original Extension Amendment, the holders of 15,300,532 Class A Ordinary Shares property exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.41 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $159.34 million, leaving approximately $20.3 million in the Trust Account. As of November 7, 2023, the amounts held in the Trust Account was approximately $21.8 million.
While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there may not be sufficient time before the Current Termination Date to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to complete the Business Combination, it is appropriate to obtain the Extension. The Board believes that the initial business combination opportunity with Borealis is compelling and in the best interests of our shareholders. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to extend the date by which the Company must complete an initial business combination to the Extended Date. If the Extension Proposal is approved, we plan to hold another shareholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination and related proposals.
The Extension
We are proposing to amend the Charter by special resolution pursuant to an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereof to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate its initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A Ordinary Shares if it fails to complete such initial business combination, from the Current Termination Date to the Extension Date.
Reasons for the Proposal
The purpose of the Extension is to allow the Company more time to complete its previously announced Business Combination by and among the Company, Newco and Borealis pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there may not be sufficient time before the Current Termination Date to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to complete the Business Combination, it is appropriate to obtain the Extension. The Board believes that the initial business combination opportunity with Borealis is compelling and in the best interests of our shareholders. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to extend the date by which the Company must complete an initial business combination to the Extended Date. If the closing of the Business Combination occurs prior to the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Extraordinary General Meeting will be cancelled and will not be held.
The Charter currently provides that if the Company does not complete an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less taxes payable), divided by the
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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) 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
We believe that the provision of the Charter described in the preceding paragraph was included to protect the Company’s shareholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the Charter. We also believe, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing the Business Combination, and our belief that an initial business combination is likely to offer an attractive investment for our shareholders, the Extension is warranted.
The Company is not asking you to vote on any proposed initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed initial business combination when it is submitted to shareholders in the future and the right to redeem your public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, in the event the proposed initial business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Is Not Approved
If the Extension Proposal is not approved, and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we wind up. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from its remaining assets outside of the Trust Account.
If the Extension Is Approved
If the Extension is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the Charter with the Cayman Registrar in the form of Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete an initial business combination until the Extended Date.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash from the Trust Account in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated the Business Combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, the amount held in the Trust Account will be reduced by withdrawals in connection with any shareholder redemptions. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension is approved, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $21.8 million that was in the Trust Account as of November 7, 2023. The Company may need to obtain additional funds to complete the Business Combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all. Additionally, we will not proceed with the Extension if the number of redemptions of our public shares cause us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension.
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If the Extension Proposal is approved, the Sponsor will continue to receive payments from the Company of $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services until the earlier of the Company’s consummation of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement.
Redemption Rights
In connection with the approval of the Extension, each public shareholder may seek to redeem his, her or its public shares. Holders of public shares who do not elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the Extension will retain the right to redeem their public shares in connection with any shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination, or if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.
TO DEMAND REDEMPTION, YOU MUST ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, INCLUDING SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST THAT YOUR SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AND DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON DECEMBER 1, 2023. You will only be entitled to receive cash in connection with a redemption of these shares if you continue to hold them until the effective date of the Extension and redemptions.
Pursuant to the Charter, a public shareholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public shareholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
i. (a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares as part of units and elect to separate such units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and
ii. prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 1, 2023 (two business days prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting), (a) submit a written request to Continental, the Company’s transfer agent, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company.
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or her own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public shareholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Proposal.
Through the Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) system, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge a tendering broker fee and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such shareholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those shareholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Shareholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.
Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension will not be redeemed for cash held in the Trust Account. In the event that a public shareholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the shareholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer
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agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public shareholder tenders shares and the Extension is not approved, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the shareholder promptly following the determination that the Extension will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public shareholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public shareholders that make the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such shareholders.
If properly demanded, the Company will redeem each public share for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, divided by the number of then-issued and outstanding Public Shares. Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $ at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares on November 7, 2023 was $ per share. The Company cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares on the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares.
If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your Ordinary Shares for cash and will no longer own such shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your stock certificate(s) to the Company’s transfer agent prior to the vote on the Extension Proposal. The Company anticipates that a public shareholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension.
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations for Shareholders Exercising Redemption Rights
The following is a discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to U.S. Holders (as defined below) that elect to have their Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed for cash if the Extension Proposal is completed. This discussion applies only to Class A Ordinary Shares that are held as a capital asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances or status, including:
• the Sponsor or our directors and officers;
• financial institutions or financial services entities;
• broker-dealers;
• taxpayers that are subject to mark-to-market accounting rules;
• tax-exempt entities;
• governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
• insurance companies;
• regulated investment companies or 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 all classes of our shares;
• persons that acquired Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to an exercise of employee share options or upon payout of a restricted stock unit, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation;
• persons that hold Class A Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction;
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• partnerships (or entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes), or persons holding Class A Ordinary Shares through such partnerships or other pass-through entities;
• persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; or
• accrual method taxpayers that file applicable financial statements as described in Section 451(b) of the Code.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), proposed, temporary and final Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof. All of the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax considerations described herein. This discussion does not address U.S. federal taxes other than those pertaining to U.S. federal income taxation (such as estate or gift taxes, the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare tax on investment income), nor does it address any aspects of U.S. state or local or non-U.S. taxation.
We have not and do not intend to seek any rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the exercise of redemption rights. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take positions inconsistent with the considerations discussed below or that any such positions would not be sustained by a court.
This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or any entity or arrangement so characterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Class A Ordinary Shares, the tax treatment of such partnership and a person treated as a partner of such partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding any Class A Ordinary Shares and persons that are treated as partners of such partnerships should consult their tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of an exercise of redemption rights to them.
EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH HOLDER, AN EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of Class A Ordinary Shares who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• an individual citizen or resident of the United States,
• a corporation (or other entity that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia,
• an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or
• a trust if (1) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.
Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below under “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — PFIC Considerations,” if a U.S. Holder’s Class A Ordinary Shares are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this proxy statement, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such holder will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of such shares redeemed under Section 302 of the Code or is treated as a distribution under Section 301 of the Code.
If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A Ordinary Shares, a U.S. Holder will be treated as described below under the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares.”
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If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A Ordinary Shares, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a distribution with the tax consequences described below under the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares — Taxation of Distributions.”
The redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares will generally qualify as a sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares that are redeemed if such redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the redeeming U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of such U.S. Holder’s interest or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to such U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
For purposes of such tests, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only ordinary shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder, but also ordinary shares that are constructively owned by such U.S. Holder. A redeeming U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to ordinary shares owned directly, ordinary shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which such U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any ordinary shares such U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants.
The redemption of ordinary shares will generally be “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a redeeming U.S. Holder if the percentage of the respective entity’s outstanding voting shares that such U.S. Holder actually or constructively owns immediately after the redemption is less than 80% of the percentage of the respective entity’s outstanding voting shares that such U.S. Holder actually or constructively owned immediately before the redemption. Prior to an 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 such U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of the ordinary shares actually or constructively owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the ordinary shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed and such U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of ordinary shares owned by certain family members and such U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other ordinary shares. The redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if it results in a “meaningful reduction” of such U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the respective entity. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in such U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest will depend on the particular facts and circumstances applicable to it. 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.”
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares will be treated as a distribution to the redeemed holder and the tax effects to such U.S. Holder will be as described below under the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares — Taxation of Distributions.” 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 such holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to such holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including any special reporting requirements.
Taxation of Distributions.
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below under “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — PFIC Considerations,” if the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A Ordinary Shares is treated as a distribution, as discussed above, such distributions will generally be treated a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Such dividends 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, dividends will generally be taxed at preferential long-term capital gains rates only if (i) Class A Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) Class A Ordinary Shares are eligible for the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty, in each case provided that the Company is not treated as a PFIC in the taxable year in which the dividend was paid or in any previous year and certain other requirements are met. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for any dividends paid with respect to Class A Ordinary Shares.
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Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A Ordinary Shares. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A Ordinary Shares and will be treated as described below under the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares.” However, we do not currently maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. U.S. Holders should therefore assume that any amounts treated as a distribution as a result of a redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares will be reported as dividend income.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares.
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below under “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — PFIC Considerations,” if the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A Ordinary Shares is treated as a sale or other taxable disposition, as discussed above, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount realized and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed.
Under tax law currently in effect, long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax at a reduced rate of tax. Capital gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares exceeds one year. However, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares described in this proxy statement may prevent the holding period of the Class A Ordinary Shares from commencing prior to the termination of such rights. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations. U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of Class A Ordinary Shares (Class A Ordinary Shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisor to determine how the above rules apply to them.
PFIC Considerations
Generally
A foreign corporation (i.e., non-U.S.) will be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year is passive income. Alternatively, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than certain rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. Generally, cash is considered to be held for the production of passive income and thus is considered a passive asset. The determination of whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is based upon the composition of such corporation’s income and assets (including, among others, its proportionate share of the income and assets of any other corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, 25% (by value) of the stock), and the nature of such corporation’s activities.
A separate determination must be made after the close of each taxable year as to whether a foreign corporation was a PFIC for that year. Once a foreign corporation qualifies as a PFIC it is, with respect to a shareholder during the time it qualifies as a PFIC, and subject to certain exceptions, always treated as a PFIC with respect to such shareholder, regardless of whether it satisfied either of the qualification tests in subsequent years.
Because we are a blank check company with no current active business, based on the composition of our income and assets, we believe we were a PFIC for our taxable year that ended on December 31, 2022, subject to the application of the start-up exception discussed below. Our PFIC status for our current taxable year is uncertain and may depend upon the application of the start-up exception, discussed below.
Start-up Exception
Pursuant to the start-up exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income (the “start-up year”) if: (1) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (2) the corporation establishes to the satisfaction of the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the start-up year; and (3) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years.
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For purposes of the start-up exception, our taxable year that ended on December 31, 2022, should be the start-up year and we should not be treated as a PFIC for such taxable year if we qualify for the start-up exception, which requires that we do not meet the PFIC asset test or income test in either of the following two taxable years. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of such year, and in the case of the application of the start-up exception to our taxable year that ended on December 31, 2022, possibly until after the end of our second succeeding taxable year. Further, if we do not consummate an initial business combination on or prior to December 31, 2022, we will not qualify for the start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our PFIC for our taxable year that ended on December 31, 2022, and there can be no assurance with respect to our PFIC status for the current or any future taxable year.
Default PFIC Rules
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder and the U.S. Holder did not make a timely and effective “qualified election fund” (“QEF”) election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held Class A Ordinary Shares, a QEF election along with a purging election, or a “mark-to-market” election, then such holder will generally be subject to special rules (the “Default PFIC Regime”) with respect to:
• any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its Class A Ordinary Shares, which would include a redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares if such redemption is treated as a sale under the rules discussed above; and
• 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 its ordinary shares during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for such ordinary shares), which may include a redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares if such redemption is treated as a distribution under the rules discussed above.
Under the Default PFIC Regime:
• the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for its Class A Ordinary Shares;
• the amount of gain 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 the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income;
• the amount of gain allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in such U.S. Holder’s 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 tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of such U.S. Holder.
QEF Election
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect of its Class A Ordinary Shares by making a timely 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. In general, a QEF election must be made on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing such U.S. Holder’s tax return for the taxable year for which the election relates.
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, including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. 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
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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.
If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election after our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) Class A Ordinary Shares, the adverse PFIC tax consequences (with adjustments to take into account any current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election) will continue to apply with respect to such Class A Ordinary Shares unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under the 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, taxed under the PFIC rules described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will have a new basis and holding period in such Class A Ordinary Shares for purposes of the PFIC rules.
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, 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 its Class A Ordinary Shares, and the special tax and interest charge rules 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 as a result of a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no interest charge will be imposed. As discussed above, U.S. Holders of a QEF are currently taxed on their pro rata shares of its earnings and profits, whether or not distributed. In such case, a subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable as a dividend to such U.S. Holders. 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.
Mark-to-Market Election
Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may make an election to mark marketable shares in a PFIC to market on an annual basis. PFIC shares generally are marketable if they are (i) “regularly traded” on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities Exchange Commission or on the national market system established under Section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (ii) “regularly traded” on any exchange or market that the Treasury Department determines to have rules sufficient to ensure that the market price accurately represents the fair market value of the stock. The Class A Ordinary Shares, which are listed on the NYSE, should qualify as marketable shares for this purpose but there can be no assurance that the Class A Ordinary Shares will be “regularly traded.”
Pursuant to such an election, a U.S. Holder would include in each year as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such stock over its adjusted basis at the end of the taxable year. A U.S. Holder may treat as ordinary loss any excess of the adjusted basis of the stock over its fair market value at the end of the year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the election in prior years. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the PFIC shares will be increased to reflect any amounts included in income, and decreased to reflect any amounts deducted, as a result of a mark-to-market election. Any gain recognized on a disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of a mark-to-market election).
PFIC Reporting Requirements
If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder of Class A Ordinary Shares will be required to file an annual report on IRS Form 8621 containing such information with respect to its interest in a PFIC as the IRS may require. Failure to file IRS Form 8621 for each applicable taxable year may result in substantial penalties and result in the U.S. Holder’s taxable years being open to audit by the IRS (potentially including with respect to items that do not relate to a U.S. Holder’s investment in the Class A Ordinary Shares) until such forms are properly filed.
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THE PFIC RULES ARE VERY COMPLEX AND ARE IMPACTED BY VARIOUS FACTORS IN ADDITION TO THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE. ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE PFIC RULES ON THE REDEMPTION OF CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WHETHER A QEF ELECTION, A PURGING ELECTION, A MARK-TO-MARKET ELECTION, OR ANY OTHER ELECTION IS AVAILABLE AND THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ANY SUCH ELECTION, AND THE IMPACT OF ANY PROPOSED OR FINAL PFIC TREASURY REGULATIONS.
Required Vote
Approval of the Extension Proposal requires a special resolution under the Companies Act, being the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who do so at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If the Extension Proposal is not approved, and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, 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 the Company (less 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 liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and the Board, 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 in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
The Initial Shareholders are expected to vote all Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Extension. On the record date, the Initial Shareholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 4,312,500 Founder Shares, constituting 65.7% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.
In addition, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material non-public information), the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may (i) purchase public shares from institutional and other investors (including those who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against any of the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, or elect to redeem, or indicate an intention to redeem, public shares), (ii) enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to not redeem their public shares, or (iii) execute agreements to purchase such public shares from such investors or enter into non-redemption agreements in the future. In the event that the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply, they (a) would purchase the public shares at a price no higher than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process (i.e., approximately $ per share, based on the amounts held in the Trust Account as of November 7, 2023); (b) would represent in writing that such public shares will not be voted in favor of approving the Extension; and (c) would waive in writing any redemption rights with respect to the public shares so purchased.
To the extent any such purchases by the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases apply, the Company will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting the following: (i) the number of public shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Extension will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to the Sponsor, the Company’s directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of Ordinary Shares for which the Company has received redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer.
The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood of (i) otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem and (ii) the Company’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) being at least $5,000,001.
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If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Extension to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted for the Extension at the Extraordinary General Meeting and could decrease the chances that the Extension would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Interests of the Sponsor and the Company’s Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation of the Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include, among other things:
• if the Extension Proposal is not approved, and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, the 4,312,500 aggregate Founder Shares held by the Sponsor and certain of our directors will be worthless (as the Sponsor and such directors have waived liquidation rights with respect to such shares), as will the 9,300,000 Private Warrants held by the Sponsor and the underwriters;
• in connection with the IPO, the Sponsor agreed that it will be liable under certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or prospective target businesses with which the Company has entered into certain agreements;
• all rights specified in the Charter relating to the right of officers and directors to be indemnified by the Company, and of the Company’s officers and directors to be exculpated from monetary liability with respect to prior acts or omissions, will continue after an initial business combination and, if the Company liquidates, the Company will not be able to perform its obligations to its officers and directors under those provisions;
• none of the Company’s officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to the Company, and all of the current officers and directors are expected to continue to serve in their roles at least through the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting and may continue to serve following any potential initial business combination and receive compensation thereafter; and
• the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors and their respective affiliates may be entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and completing an initial business combination and, if the Extension is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, they will not have any claim against the Trust Account for reimbursement so that the Company will most likely be unable to reimburse such expenses.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Extension Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board has approved and declared advisable the adoption of the Extension Proposal.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION PROPOSAL. THE BOARD EXPRESSES NO OPINION AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC SHARES.
28
PROPOSAL NO. 2 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow the Board to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Proposal. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Consequences if the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our shareholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Proposal.
Vote Required for Approval
The Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Recommendation of the Board
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Adjournment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Therefore, if there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Proposal, the Board will approve and declare advisable adoption of the Adjournment Proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
29
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information available to us as of November 3, 2023, with respect to the Ordinary Shares held by:
• each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Ordinary Shares;
• each of our executive officers, directors and director nominees that beneficially owns ordinary shares; and
• all our executive officers and directors as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days. Except as described in the footnotes below and subject to applicable community property laws and similar laws, we believe that each person listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 6,561,968 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of November 3, 2023, including 3,749,468 Class A Ordinary Shares and 2,812,500 Class B Ordinary Shares. Voting power represents the combined voting power of Ordinary Shares owned beneficially by such person. On all matters to be voted upon, the holders of the Ordinary Shares vote together as a single class. The table below does not include any Ordinary Shares underlying our outstanding warrants because such securities are not exercisable within 60 days of November 3, 2023.
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Number of |
Percentage of |
||||
|
Oxus Capital PTE. LTD.(2) |
4,162,500 |
(3) |
63.43 |
% |
||
|
Kenges Rakishev(2) |
4,162,500 |
(3) |
63.43 |
% |
||
|
Kanat Mynzhanov |
— |
|
— |
|
||
|
Askar Mametov |
— |
|
— |
|
||
|
Karim Noureddine Zahmoul |
50,000 |
|
* |
|
||
|
Christophe Charlier |
50,000 |
|
* |
|
||
|
Shiv Vikram Khemka |
50,000 |
|
* |
|
||
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 individuals) |
4,312,500 |
(4)(5) |
65.72 |
% |
||
____________
* Less than one percent.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 300/26 Dostyk Avenue, Almaty 050020.
(2) Represents securities held by Oxus Capital PTE. LTD., our Sponsor, of which Kenges Rakishev is the controlling shareholder.
(3) Consists of 1,500,000 Class A Shares and 2,662,500 Class B Shares.
(4) Does not include certain shares indirectly owned by this individual as a result of his membership interest in our sponsor.
(5) Interests shown include Founder Shares, including 2,632,500 Class B Ordinary Shares and 1,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares. The Class B Ordinary Shares are convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares on a one for one basis, subject to adjustment.
30
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
If the Extension Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Company intends to hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders for the purpose of approving its initial business combination and related transactions. Accordingly, the Company’s next annual general meeting of shareholders would be held at a future date to be determined by the post business-combination company. The Company expects that it would notify shareholders of the deadline for submitting a proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement for its next annual general meeting following the completion of an initial business combination. For any proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to shareholders at the Company’s 2024 annual general meeting of shareholders, it must be submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act and the Charter. The Company anticipates that the 2024 annual general meeting will be held no later than December 31, 2024. Assuming the 2024 annual general meeting is held on or before such date, such proposals must be received by the Company at its executive offices a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials for the 2024 annual general meeting.
If the Extension Proposal is not approved the Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as permitted by the Charter and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Current Termination Date, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and there will be no 2024 annual general meeting.
31
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
For shareholders receiving printed proxy materials, unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this proxy statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if we believe the shareholders are members of the same family. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household and helps to reduce our expenses. However, if shareholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder and together both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these instructions:
• If the shares are registered in the name of the shareholder, the shareholder should contact us at our offices at 300/26 Dostyk Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020, or +7 (727)355-8021, to inform us of his or her request; or
• If a bank, broker or other nominee holds the shares, the shareholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee directly.
32
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You can read the Company’s SEC filings, including this proxy statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Those filings are also available free of charge to the public on, or accessible through, the Company’s corporate website under the heading “SEC Filings” at https://www.oxusacquisition.com. The Company’s website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this proxy statement.
If you would like additional copies of this proxy statement or if you have questions about an initial business combination or the proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, you should contact the Company at the following address and telephone number:
Oxus Acquisition Corp.
300/26 Dostyk Avenue
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050020
+7 (727)355-8021
Attention: Kanat Mynzhanov
Email: info@oxusacquisition.com
You may also obtain these documents by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the Company’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address and telephone number:
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street
5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Individuals, please call toll-free: (800) 662-5200
Banks and brokerages, please call: (203) 658-9400
Email: OXUS.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
If you are a shareholder of the Company and would like to request documents, please do so by November 28, 2023 (one week prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting), in order to receive them before the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you request any documents from us, we will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt means.
* * *
The Board does not know of any other matters to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If any additional matters are properly presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have discretion to vote the shares they represent in accordance with their own judgment on such matters.
It is important that your shares be represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. You are, therefore, urged to execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the enclosed proxy card in the envelope that has also been provided.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
, 2023
33
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] 2023 AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ] 2023)
Annex A-1
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] 2023 AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ] 2023)
1 The name of the Company is Oxus Acquisition Corp.
2 The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of International Corporation Services Limited, Harbour Place, P.O. Box 472, 103 South Church Street, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may decide.
3 The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands.
4 The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Member’s shares.
5 The share capital of the Company is US$55,500 divided into 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.
6 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.
Annex A-2
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] 2023 AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ] 2023)
1 Interpretation
1.1 In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:
|
“Affiliate” |
in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. |
|
|
“Applicable Law” |
means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person. |
|
|
“Articles” |
means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. |
|
|
“Audit Committee” |
means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
|
|
“Auditor” |
means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). |
|
|
“Business Combination” |
means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (the “target business”), which Business Combination: (a) as long as the Company’s securities are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement to enter into such Business Combination; and (b) must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
|
|
“business day” |
means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City. |
|
|
“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. |
|
|
“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. |
Annex A-3
|
“Company” |
means the above named company. |
|
|
“Company’s Website” |
means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name (if any). |
|
|
“Compensation Committee” |
means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
|
|
“Designated Stock Exchange” |
means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including the Nasdaq Capital Market. |
|
|
“Directors” |
means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
|
|
“Dividend” |
means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles. |
|
|
“Electronic Communication” |
means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors. |
|
|
“Electronic Record” |
has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act. |
|
|
“Electronic Transactions Act” |
means the Electronic Transactions Act (As 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, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. |
|
|
“Founders” |
means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO. |
|
|
“Independent Director” |
has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. |
|
|
“IPO” |
means the Company’s initial public offering of securities. |
|
|
“Member” |
has the same meaning as in the Statute. |
|
|
“Memorandum” |
means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. |
|
|
“Nominating Committee” |
means the nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
|
|
“Officer” |
means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company. |
|
|
“Ordinary Resolution” |
means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and includes a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles. |
|
|
“Over-Allotment Option” |
means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15 per cent of the firm units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10 per unit, less underwriting discounts and commissions. |
|
|
“Preference Share” |
means a preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. |
Annex A-4
|
“Public Share” |
means a Class A Share issued as part of the units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO. |
|
|
“Redemption Notice” |
means a notice in a form approved by the Company by which a holder of Public Shares is entitled to require the Company to redeem its Public Shares, subject to any conditions contained therein. |
|
|
“Register of Members” |
means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members. |
|
|
“Registered Office” |
means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
|
|
“Representative” |
means a representative of the Underwriters. |
|
|
“Seal” |
means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. |
|
|
“Securities and Exchange Commission” |
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
|
“Share” |
means a Class A Share, a Class B Share or a Preference Share and includes a fraction of a share in the Company. |
|
|
“Special Resolution” |
subject to Article 29.4, has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution. |
|
|
“Sponsor” |
means Oxus Capital PTE. LTD., a company incorporated in Singapore, and its successors or assigns. |
|
|
“Statute” |
means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
|
|
“Treasury Share” |
means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. |
|
|
“Trust Account” |
means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of the 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 warrants 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. |
1.2 In the Articles:
(a) words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;
(b) words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender;
(c) words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person;
(d) “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record;
(e) “shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive;
(f) references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced;
(g) any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;
(h) the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires);
Annex A-5
(i) headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles;
(j) any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record;
(k) any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act;
(l) sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply;
(m) the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and
(n) the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.
2 Commencement of Business
2.1 The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit.
2.2 The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration.
3 Issue of Shares and other Securities
3.1 Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights, save that the Directors shall not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Ordinary Share Conversion set out in the Articles.
3.2 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 on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine.
3.3 The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of whole or fractional 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, upon such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising any such units which are issued in connection with the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 90th day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form ٨-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.
3.4 The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.
4 Register of Members
4.1 The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute.
Annex A-6
4.2 The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. 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.
5 Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date
5.1 For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days.
5.2 In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose.
5.3 If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
6 Certificates for Shares
6.1 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. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled.
6.2 The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.
6.3 If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate.
6.4 Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery.
6.5 Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company.
Annex A-7
7 Transfer of Shares
7.1 Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles 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 right, option, warrant or unit.
7.2 The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members.
8 Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares
8.1 Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares, except Public Shares, shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. 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 the Business Combination Article hereof;
(b) Class B Shares held by the Sponsor shall be surrendered by the Sponsor for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Sponsor will own 20 per cent of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any shares issued to the Underwriters prior to the IPO or securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and
(c) Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in the Business Combination Article hereof.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member. For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members.
8.3 The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital.
8.4 The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share.
9 Treasury Shares
9.1 The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share.
9.2 The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration).
Annex A-8
10 Variation of Rights of Shares
10.1 Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class (other than with respect to a waiver of the provisions of the Class B Ordinary Share Conversion Article hereof, which as stated therein shall only require the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class), or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
10.2 For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.
10.3 The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith or Shares issued with preferred or other rights.
11 Commission on Sale of Shares
The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
12 Non Recognition of Trusts
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 or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
13 Lien on Shares
13.1 The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share.
13.2 The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold.
Annex A-9
13.3 To give effect to any such 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 purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under the Articles.
13.4 The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale.
14 Call on Shares
14.1 Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen clear days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made.
14.2 A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed.
14.3 The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
14.4 If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part.
14.5 An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
14.6 The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid.
14.7 The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance.
14.8 No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable.
15 Forfeiture of Shares
15.1 If a call or instalment of 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 fourteen clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
15.2 If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture.
Annex A-10
15.3 A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person.
15.4 A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares.
15.5 A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share.
15.6 The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
16 Transmission of Shares
16.1 If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a joint holder), or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder.
16.2 Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be.
16.3 A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles), the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
Annex A-11
17 Class B Share Conversion
17.1 The rights attaching to the Class A Shares and Class B 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 (subject to the Variation of Rights of Shares Article and the Appointment and Removal of Directors Article hereof) with the exception that the holder of a Class B Share shall have the conversion rights referred to in this Article.
17.2 Class B Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”) (A) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holder thereof and (B) automatically on the day of the consummation of a Business Combination.
17.3 Notwithstanding the Initial 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 consummation of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the consummation of a Business Combination at a ratio for which the Class B Shares shall convert into Class A Shares will be adjusted (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 and Class B 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, excluding any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor or its Affiliates or any member of the Company’s management upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company.
17.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial 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 the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof.
17.5 The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by 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.
17.6 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.
17.7 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.
17.8 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 one-for-one.
Annex A-12
18 Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital
18.1 The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:
(a) increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine;
(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) by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and
(e) cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the 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.
18.2 All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital.
18.3 Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution and Article 29.4, the Company may by Special Resolution:
(a) change its name;
(b) alter or add to the Articles;
(c) alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and
(d) reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund.
19 Offices and Places of Business
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.
20 General Meetings
20.1 All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
20.2 The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented.
20.3 The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors may call general meetings, and, for the avoidance of doubt, Members shall not have the ability to call general meetings.
20.4 Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Company’s proxy statement released to Members in connection with the previous year’s annual general meeting or, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year’s annual general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual general meeting, then the deadline shall be set by the board of Directors with such deadline being a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its related proxy materials.
Annex A-13
21 Notice of General Meetings
21.1 At least five clear days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, 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 ninety-five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right.
21.2 The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting.
22 Proceedings at General Meetings
22.1 No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of a majority of the Shares 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.
22.2 A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting.
22.3 A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.
22.4 If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum.
22.5 The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairman of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
22.6 If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
22.7 The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
22.8 When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting.
Annex A-14
22.9 If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the Directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting.
22.10 When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed.
22.11 A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.
22.12 A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded.
22.13 A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll.
22.14 In the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
23 Votes of Members
23.1 Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, including as set out at Article 29.4, every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder.
23.2 In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members.
23.3 A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy.
23.4 No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid.
23.5 No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
23.6 Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes.
23.7 A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed.
Annex A-15
24 Proxies
24.1 The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member.
24.2 The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote.
24.3 The chairman may in any event at his discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairman, shall be invalid.
24.4 The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll.
24.5 Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy.
25 Corporate Members
25.1 Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member.
25.2 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)).
26 Shares that May Not be Voted
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.
27 Directors
27.1 There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors.
27.2 The Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Upon the adoption of the Articles, the existing Directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III Directors. The Class I Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II Directors shall stand appointed for a term
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expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III Directors shall stand appointed 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 appointed to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be appointed for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment. Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings called for the appointment of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, additional Directors and any vacancies in the board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of Directors for cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Articles), or by the sole remaining Director. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed 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 appointed and qualified.
28 Powers of Directors
28.1 Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors.
28.2 All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution.
28.3 The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.
28.4 The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
29 Appointment and Removal of Directors
29.1 Prior to the consummation 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 consummation of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director.
29.2 The Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the maximum number of Directors.
29.3 After the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director.
29.4 Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, Article 29.1 may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by at least two-thirds of such Members (which shall include a simple majority of the holders of Class B Shares) as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given, or by way of unanimous written resolution.
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30 Vacation of Office of Director
The office of a Director shall be vacated if:
(a) the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or
(b) the Director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or
(c) the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or
(d) the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or
(e) 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.
31 Proceedings of Directors
31.1 The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors then in office.
31.2 Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
31.3 A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting.
31.4 A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held.
31.5 A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis.
31.6 The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.
31.7 The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
31.8 All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be.
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31.9 A Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director.
32 Presumption of Assent
A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.
33 Directors’ Interests
33.1 A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine.
33.2 A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director.
33.3 A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company.
33.4 No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon.
33.5 A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.
34 Minutes
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of Officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors present at each meeting.
35 Delegation of Directors’ Powers
35.1 The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee). Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.
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35.2 The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.
35.3 The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.
35.4 The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time.
35.5 The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
35.6 The Directors may appoint such Officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an Officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office.
36 No Minimum Shareholding
The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.
37 Remuneration of Directors
37.1 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 by the Company 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 travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.
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37.2 The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director.
38 Seal
38.1 The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some Officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose.
38.2 The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.
38.3 A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever.
39 Dividends, Distributions and Reserve
39.1 Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law.
39.2 Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly.
39.3 The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise.
39.4 The Directors may resolve that any Dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors.
39.5 Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met.
39.6 The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company.
39.7 Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every
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such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders.
39.8 No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company.
39.9 Any Dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.
40 Capitalisation
The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution; appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or other distribution; and apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.
41 Books of Account
41.1 The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions.
41.2 The Directors shall determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting.
41.3 The Directors may cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.
42 Audit
42.1 The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine.
42.2 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 rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter
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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 Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.
42.3 If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) 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.
42.4 The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists).
42.5 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.
42.6 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 such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.
42.7 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.
42.8 Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the Directors, with any Director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval.
42.9 The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO.
42.10At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The “audit committee financial expert” shall have such past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication.
43 Notices
43.1 Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website.
43.2 Where a notice is sent by:
(a) courier; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier;
(b) post; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted;
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(c) cable, telex or fax; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted;
(d) e-mail or other Electronic Communication; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient; and
(e) placing it on the Company’s Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Company’s Website.
43.3 A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under the Articles and shall be 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 supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.
43.4 Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
44 Winding Up
44.1 If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up:
(a) if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or
(b) if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise.
44.2 If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.
45 Indemnity and Insurance
45.1 Every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of
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their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
45.2 The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.
45.3 The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.
46 Financial Year
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.
47 Transfer by Way of Continuation
If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.
48 Mergers and Consolidations
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
49 Business Combination
49.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, this Article shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of the Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of a Business Combination and the full distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In the event of a conflict between this Article and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article shall prevail.
49.2 Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall either:
(a) submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or
(b) provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase 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 such Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (net of taxes paid or payable, if any), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares, provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 immediately prior to or upon consummation of such Business Combination. Such obligation to repurchase Shares is subject to the completion of the proposed Business Combination to which it relates.
Annex A-25
49.3 If the Company initiates any tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
49.4 At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination, provided that the Company shall not consummate such Business Combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 immediately prior to, or upon such consummation of, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to, such Business Combination.
49.5 Any Member holding Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director may, at least two business days’ prior to any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided for in the related proxy materials (the “IPO Redemption”), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 15 per cent of the Public Shares in the aggregate without the prior consent of the Company and provided further that any beneficial holder of Public Shares on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination, a per-Share redemption 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 the Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (such interest shall be net of taxes payable) and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then issued Public Shares (such redemption price being referred to herein as the “Redemption Price”), but only in the event that the applicable proposed Business Combination is approved and consummated. The Company shall not redeem Public Shares that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 following such redemptions (the “Redemption Limitation”).
49.6 A Member may not withdraw a Redemption Notice once submitted to the Company unless the Directors determine (in their sole discretion) to permit the withdrawal of such redemption request (which they may do in whole or in part).
49.7 In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 33 months from the consummation of the IPO or such earlier date as determined by the Board of Directors, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall:
(a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up;
(b) 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 (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and
(c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve,
subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of Applicable Law.
Annex A-26
49.8 In the event that any amendment is made to the Articles:
(a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or redeem 100 per cent of the Public Shares if the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 33 months from the consummation of the IPO or such earlier date as determined by the Board of Directors, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles; or
(b) with respect to any other provision relating to Members’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity,
each holder of Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval or effectiveness of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. The Company’s ability to provide such redemption in this Article is subject to the Redemption Limitation.
49.9 A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an IPO Redemption, a repurchase of Shares by means of a tender offer pursuant to this Article, or a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account.
49.10 After the issue of Public Shares, and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to:
(a) receive funds from the Trust Account; or
(b) vote as a class with Public Shares on a Business Combination.
49.11 The uninterested Independent Directors shall approve any transaction or transactions between the Company and any of the following parties:
(a) any Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant influence over the Company; and
(b) any Director or Officer and any Affiliate of such Director or Officer.
49.12 A Director may vote in respect of a Business Combination in which such Director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such Director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other Directors.
49.13 As long as the securities of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with a Business Combination. A Business Combination must not be effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations.
49.14 The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer. In the event the Company seeks to consummate a Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer, the Company, 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, that the Business Combination is fair to the unaffiliated shareholders of the Company from a financial point of view.
Annex A-27
Business Opportunities
49.15 To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no individual serving as a Director or an Officer (“Management”) shall have any 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 Management, 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, Management 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 solely by reason of the fact that such party 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.
49.16 Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, 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 Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge.
49.17 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.
Annex A-28
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY. Vote by Internet - QUICK EASY IMMEDIATE - 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week or by Mail OXUS ACQUISITION CORP. Your Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card. Votes submitted electronically over the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 4, 2023. INTERNET – www.cstproxyvote.com Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card available when you access the above website. Follow the prompts to vote your shares. Vote at the Meeting – If you plan to attend the virtual online extraordinary general meeting, you will need your 12 digit control number to vote electronically at the extraordinary general meeting. To attend: https:// PROXY CARD MAIL – Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. FOLD HERE • DO NOT SEPARATE • INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1 AND 2. Please mark your votes like this Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Proposal — as a special resolution, to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Charter”) pursuant to FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Proposal No. 2 — The Adjournment Proposal — as an ordinary resolution, to approve the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN an amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to as our initial business combination, (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated on September 8, 2021 if it fails to complete such initial business combination,for up to an additional six months, from December 8, 2023 to up to June 8, 2024, or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the “Extension Proposal”); vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Adjournment Proposal, which will only be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting if, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Extension Proposal, in which case the Adjournment Proposal will be the only proposal presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. CONTROL NUMBER Signature Signature, if held jointly Date , 2023 When Shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 5, 2023 This notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at https:// FOLD HERE • DO NOT SEPARATE • INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED PROXY CARD FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF OXUS ACQUISITION CORP. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kanat Mynzhanov and Askar Mametov (each, a “Proxy”) as proxy, with the power to appoint a substitute to vote the shares that the undersigned is entitled to vote (the “Shares”) at the Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders of Oxus Acquisition Corp. to be held on December 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, virtually via live webcast at https:// or at any adjournments and/or postponements thereof. Such Shares shall be voted as indicated with respect to the proposals listed on the reverse side hereof and in the Proxy’s discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the Extraordinary General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS GIVEN AS TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE REVERSE SIDE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. (Continued and to be marked, dated and signed on reverse side)